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Vol. 45 March 17, 2020 Number 11
Do We Have Any “Spare” Change?
Barry Kennedy
It is a warm sunny day; you and your family are enjoying a well-deserved
day off. The decision was made to go into the city, do a little shopping, grab a bite to
eat at one of your favorite restaurants, and maybe take in a good movie. However, as
you are walking up to the department store you see him. He may be in a wheelchair,
holding a handwritten sign or just simply looking destitute. As you approach many
thoughts enter into your mind, “Is he going to mug us, he probably is an alcoholic,
or some similarly negative thought. Then he says, “Sir (or mam), do you by any
chance have any spare change?” With all that we have heard, as well as just thought,
we find it difficult to give this person anything. What should we do, what is the best
way to handle such a situation? The Bible offers examples that can help us to
understand our role in such an area.
Give him what he really needs. Peter and John found themselves in a very
similar situation (Acts 3:1-11). The lame man was laid at the gate of the temple on a
daily basis. As people passed by, to enter into the temple, he would ask alms of
them. Here is a man who was lame from his birth. His situation was known by
everyone in town. Notice what happened when he asked Peter and John to give him
a donation. “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter
said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:4-6). Of course, we are not able
to give a lame man the ability to walk, but Peter let this man know that he had a
greater need than that of mere pocket change. Many benevolent groups physically
help those who are destitute, but many (if not most) fail to offer them the truth of
God’s Word (John 17:17; John 14:6; Galatians 1:6-9).
God expects His people to be good stewards with what He has given (1
Corinthians 4:2). Being a good steward would involve not enabling a bad situation
with a mere handout (Hebrews 12:5, 6). However, as Christians we are also told to
do good as we have the opportunity (Galatians 1:10). Peter and John took advantage
of an opportunity to truly help a soul in need. Peter informed the lame man that he
was welcome to what he had. These two apostles showed compassion to the lame
man by giving him a gift that would actually help him. We must ask ourselves, “If I
give this person a few dollars, will I really be helping him?” Christians have
something to give that is of far more value than that of silver and gold. Jesus said,
--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)

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--article continued from page 1—
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned” (Mark 16:15, 16). The gospel, which is the
power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), is the
greatest gift we could ever give. We are not
promised a life of leisure here on times side of
eternity; however, we must do all that we can to
fulfill the mission God has given (Luke 19:10;
Matthew 28:19, 20).
Give the benefit of doubt. We cannot know
what is in the heart of another person (1 Corinthians
2:11). This is not to say we are blind to the actions
of another. It should be that each person is given a
chance to make a real change. If that chance is
abused, we are reminded, “For even when we were
with you, this we commanded you, that if any
would not work, neither should he eat” (2
Thessalonians 3:10).
The next time we are asked, “Do you have
any spare change,” why not take it as an opportunity
to respect another as a fellow human being, created
in the image of God? May we offer real help and
not just a handout. Are they interested in what really
matters? Will they like an opportunity to be made
whole in Christ? Will we give them what they really
need, a real change, or do we just have some
SPARE change?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sympathy
Our sympathy is extended to Patsy Nichols’ in the
loss of her brother, Billy Goff, on Mar. 14. Funeral
services were held Mar. 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Skyline
Church of Christ. Please keep Patsy in your prayers!
Girls’ Joyful Rebellion
The girls’ Joyful Rebellion group will NOT meet
this Wednesday, Mar. 18. They will resume in
April.
Maywood Christian Camp
7th
Week Squad Retreat
The Maywood Christian Camp “7th
Week
Squad” Retreat scheduled for March 27-29, has
been postponed for now.
Give Away Day
Our next Give Away Day
scheduled for Saturday, Mar. 21 has
been postponed.
How Readest Thou?
‘Tis one thing to read the Bible through;
Another thing to read to learn to do.
‘Tis another thing, too, to read with delight,
And quite another thing to read it right.
Some read it with design to learn to read,
But the subject pay but little heed;
Some read it as their duty, once a week,
But no instruction from the Bible seek.
Some read to bring themselves into repute,
By showing others how they can dispute,
While some read because their neighbors do,
To see how long ‘twill take to read it through.
Some read the blessed Book they know not why—
It sometimes happens in the way to lie;
While others read it with uncommon care,
But just to find some contradiction there.
One reads with his father’s specs upon his head,
And sees the things just as his father said;
One reads through others who are not inspired,
And thinks it seems precisely what they desired.
Some read to prove some pre-admitted creed,
Thus understanding but very little what they read.
And every passage in the Book they bend.
To make it prove that all-important (?) end.
Some people read as I have thought,
To teach the book instead of being taught,
Yet many others read with highest purpose given,
To learn to do the greatest work for Heaven.
--Selected
John Duke stationed in Gulfport, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Iraq
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea

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Daily Bible Reading
March 18.......................................... 1 Samuel 13-15
March 19.......................................... 1 Samuel 16-17
March 20.......................................... 1 Samuel 18-19
March 21.......................................... 1 Samuel 20-23
March 22.......................................... 1 Samuel 24-26
March 23.......................................... 1 Samuel 27-31
March 24.............................................. 2 Samuel 1-4
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Alex Blackwelder (Mar. 20),
Jenna Davis (Mar. 20), Alicia Smith (Mar.
21), Charles Barber (Mar. 24). Anniversaries:
Hugh & Rachel Scribner (Mar. 22).
Our Sick
Jean Mounce’s surgery at UAB has been re-
scheduled for April 22. She continues to run fever.
Norma Deaton fell & hurt her back. Wilma
Underwood, Hunter & Haley’s grandmother, is in
NMMC. Beth Deaton will come home from NMMC
today. Sarah Mounce & Howard & Hayden Tindall
are home sick. Missy Nichols’ mother, Clara
McClure, has pneumonia. Brodey Houpt, Kim
Johnson’s grandson, had a good checkup last week.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Pete Barber, Steve Kelly,
Frankie Estes, Jennie Cox, 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, Margaret Miller
Nursing Homes
Evelyn Willis, Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway,
Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris
Home Devotional
Put the following Bible characters in
chronological order:
❖ Enoch
❖ Caleb
❖ Jacob
❖ Simeon
❖ Nebuchadnezzar
List the days of creation:
❖ Day one—light
❖ Day two—clouds and sky
❖ Day three—flowers, grass and trees
❖ Day four—sun, moon and stars
❖ Day five—fish and birds
❖ Day six—animals and man
❖ Day seven—rested
List the 10 plagues in order:
❖ Water to blood
❖ Frogs
❖ Lice
❖ Flies
❖ Death of cattle
❖ Boils
❖ Hail
❖ Locusts
❖ Darkness
❖ Death of firstborn
Memory Verse:
❖ Matthew 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered
and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God.”
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
Outreach Item for March
Lotion

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Men to Serve Sunday, Mar. 22, 2020 a.m.
Announcements..........................................Mark Hitt
Bible Reading.............................................Ian Willis
Opening Prayer ...................................Mike Childers
Lord’s Supper
Bobby Joe Lindley & Chad Willis
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Ricky Johnson, David Bates, Jake Kennedy
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Shawn Mounce, Ben DuBois, Sam Hood
Lead Singing....................................Eddie Simmons
Closing Prayer................................... William Harris
Ushers ................. Rodney Voyles & Andy Baldwyn
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer .................................... Greg Hughes
Closing Prayer....................................Hugh Scribner
Lead Singing....................................Michael Wilson
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Prayer................................................... Paul Blansett
Lead Singing.................................Alex Blackwelder
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)........ Heather DuBois/Raleigh Bass
(2nd
worship)...............................Marla & Jenna Harris
Pantry.................................................................Jelly
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 3-11-20..............................................164
Sunday 1st
Worship, 3-15-20 ...............................127
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................109
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................107
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$6,736
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