The article discusses the importance of obedience through three main points: 1) Only the obedient truly love God, as evidenced by Jesus saying "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Roger Staubach found victory only when he learned to obey his football coach. 2) Only the obedient will go to heaven. Paul was confident in his salvation because he was faithful and obedient to God. 3) True love for God requires obedience to Him. Few people today are willing to obey God, but obedience is necessary to fight the good fight and keep the faith that leads to salvation.

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Are we confident that our light is bright
Vol. 47 March 15, 2022 Number 11
ONLY THE OBEDIENT
Barry Kennedy
Many have had difficulty with the subject of obedience. For example, how
many times has reverse psychology been effective? It is hard for many people to be
obedient, mostly due to pride. Even in the secular world, people have come to
understand the need and benefits for obedience.
Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship
in '71 admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn't call his own
signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He
told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations
could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger
considered coach Landry to have a "genius mind" when it came to football
strategy, pride said that he should be able to run his own team. Roger later
said, "I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was
harmony, fulfillment, and victory."1
The pride of Mr. Staubach caused him to want to be his own man yet learning
to obey Coach Landry allowed him to enjoy the thrill of victory. The spiritual walk
of life differs in many ways from that of the physical. Roger Staubach may have
been able to win without obeying the coaches “calls,” but no one can be saved
without obeying Christ. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:8-9). Therefore, only the
obedient can be saved. Why?
Only the obedient truly love the Lord. Jesus made this point very clear when
He said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). One cannot say
that Jesus is the Lord of their life when they are not willing to do what He says.
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Think about this from a parental perspective. When a mom or dad tell little Timmy
to clean his room and he says, “no!” Why are they upset with him? One might say,
“He disrespected them.” Why is it that Timmy is supposed to respect his parents?
One word will sum it up, and that word is love. The reality is that when little
Timmy said, “no!” mom and dad subconsciously heard, “I don’t love you.” Now
little Timmy might never say such hateful words out right, but love is expressed
more so than it is said. Jesus was saying that God deserves more than lip service.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their
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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--
lips; but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
The heart is the classic image most use to describe
love. If our hearts are not right with God, can we say
that we have love for God? Likewise, if we are not
willing to obey Him, then our hearts are not right, and
we do not love the Lord. Therefore, only the obedient
love the Lord.
Only the obedient will go to heaven. The point
has already been made that one’s obedience is based
upon love. This point focuses on the blessing to those
who do love/obey the Lord. When the apostle Paul
came to the close of his life, he wrote young Timothy
an inspired letter. In that letter he pointed out the fact
that he was going to receive a “crown of right-
eousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all
them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
Paul’s confidence in his and everyone else’s eternal
salvation did and does require personal responsibility.
Paul was faithful to the Lord. “I have fought a good
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
(2 Timothy 4:7). This is what Paul, and Jesus as well,
meant by love.
Can we truly say that we would love His
appearing right now? Are there some changes we
would want to make before that great and terrible day
of the Lord comes? It is hard, especially in the South,
to find multitudes of people who “do not want to go to
Heaven” per se. However, when one gets down to the
heart of the matter, it is hard to find many people who
are willing to obey God. Few are ready to fight the
good fight, because few even know the course, and
that same few cannot keep the faith because they have
never received it (Psalm 119:105; Ephesians 6:13-18;
Romans 10:17). Let’s learn the lost art of obedience,
because only the obedient love the Lord and will be
with Him in Heaven.
_________________________
1www.sermonillustrations.com
~~~~~~~~~
Sympathy
Dear East Main Family,
Thank you so much for the cards, texts, prayers,
and the beautiful floral arrangement after the passing
of my stepfather, Marvin Chamblee.
We appreciate your concern and love for us during
the past few months after losing my mom and now my
stepfather. Donny McKay & family
Tuesday Mornings with
the Master
Don’t forget Tuesday Mornings with the Master
every Tuesday in the multipurpose room from 10-11
am. Anyone who can come & sign cards is welcomed.
New Bible Class Quarter
Last Sunday we began a
new quarter of study in
our Bible classes. If you
have not been attending
Bible class, now would
be a great time to start.
There have been a few
changes in some of the
adult classes for this quarter. First, the college/young
adult class is meeting upstairs at the classroom on the
west end of the building (not the east anymore) and is
being taught by Roger Sanderson & Tim Davis on
Sunday and Wednesday. Also, on Sunday mornings
Barry Kennedy will be teaching a combined adult
class in the auditorium on Restoration and Dennis
Hallmark is teaching an adult class in the
multipurpose room on Nehemiah. On Wednesday
nights, there will be two adult classes studying
Timothy. Barry Kennedy will be teaching in the
auditorium and Dennis Hallmark will be teaching in
the multipurpose room.
Gospel Meeting
The New Albany congregation will host a Gospel
Meeting March 20-23 with Billy Smith speaking
Sunday at 9:30 am, 10:30 am and 1:15 pm and
Monday-Wednesday at 6:30 pm.
Family Breakfast
We will resume our monthly
family breakfast in the multipurpose
room on Sunday, Mar. 27 from
8:15-8:45 am before worship
service. There will be biscuits and
sausage, donuts, juice, and coffee.
Everyone in the congregation is invited to come and
enjoy this short period of fellowship before we begin
our worship service.

3. Daily Bible Reading
March 16.................................................. 1 Samuel 4-8
March 17................................................ 1 Samuel 9-12
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
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Marlon Geno (Mar. 17), Jeannie
Simmons (Mar. 17), Alex Blackwelder (Mar.
20), Jenna Davis (Mar. 20), Alicia Smith (Mar.
21), Lavern Dulaney (Mar. 22).
Anniversaries: Hugh & Rachel Scribner (Mar. 22).
Our Sick
Haley Underwood will have her wisdom teeth
removed Wednesday. Wesley Bass is recuperating
from sinus surgery. Susan Reed had an iron infusion
last week. Doug Wallace is home sick. Bob Smith and
Joe Cook, Billie McNutt’s brother, have finished their
therapy and are home. Stella Pittman, Star Ray’s mom
& Barbara Wright’s sister, continues at The Meadows
in Fulton for therapy. Barbara Bishop continues
therapy at Diversicare, Room 3B, on Eason Blvd.
Crafton Laney is home recuperating from neck
surgery. Twinette Wallace’s brother, Donny Dulaney,
hopes to be discharged Tuesday from the hospital.
Prayers have also been requested for: Roy & Daisy
King, friends of Danny & Barbara Wright, who have
cancer; Michelle Maclean, Billie McNutt’s niece, who
has cancer; Freida Gardner, Eddie Simmons’ co-
worker’s wife, who has cancer; Linda Butler, Jeannie
Simmons’ co-worker, who had an aneurysm; and Pam
Gassaway, Jeannie Simmons’ co-worker, who has
Guillain Barre syndrome.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Evelyn Thompson, Annie
Martin, Bettye Davis, Steve Kelly, Frankie Estes,
Shirley Lyons, Caroline Willis, Carol Hood, Bill Goff,
Adam McCurley, Sheba Tuggers, Larry Kennedy,
Brian Carver, Lacy Plaxico
Nursing Homes
Randy Attaway, Shirley McCarthy, Bob McClure
EMYG News
Whatever you feed, it will grow. I like pasta a
lot. The only downside is that pasta is high in
carbs. So, the more I eat of it, the heavier I
become. Or that’s how it seems anyway.
Take your sin for example. Growing up I
sinned, but it was mainly to help me get out of
things like lying. But the older I’ve become, the
greater my sin. Why is that? Because I kinda
like it a little too much.
The picture below is a great way to sum up
what is being said here. If you feed something
dangerous, you’re going to get hurt. Don’t feed
and play around with sin because it will
consume you. Alex
1 Peter 5:8:
[8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour.

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022 a.m.
Announcements...........................Bobby Joe Lindley
Bible Reading....................................... Kent Nichols
Opening Prayer ..............................Roger Sanderson
Lord’s Supper
Tim Davis
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Closing Prayer......................................... Larry Long
Ushers .................................Will Davis & Joe Minor
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday 11:15 a.m. service
Opening Prayer ..........................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer........................................ Chad Willis
Lead Singing........................................ Kent Nichols
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Opening Prayer ................................Michael Wilson
Lead Singing......................................... Wade Bryan
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Contact Jimmy Spearman (840-8957) if unable to serve.
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 3-9-22 ...................................................... 159
Sunday 1st
Worship, 3-13-22 .................................... 162*
Sunday Bible Class..................................................... 152
Sunday 2nd
Worship.................................................... 112
Contribution (budget $7,900) ................................ $8,625
*This does not include the livestreamed views.
Pantry item........................................... Peanut butter
Our Vacation Bible School
is scheduled for
June 12th
-15th
from 6:30-8:00 pm!
There will be classes for all ages including adults.
Make plans now to attend!