This article discusses the importance of honesty for Christians. It argues that Christians owe honesty to God, themselves, and others. Specifically, it says that Christians owe honesty to God because God is always honest and trustworthy in His promises. Christians owe honesty to themselves to properly care for their souls and heed God's warnings. Dishonesty will lead to eternal separation from God. The article also notes that Christians should guard against selfishness and hypocrisy, which requires honesty with oneself.

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Hugh Vol. 43 June 19, 2018 Number 24
HONESTY, A CHARACTERISTIC
CHRISTIANS OWE
Barry Kennedy
How would you like to become someone else? At first glance, many people
might be opposed to this thought. However, there is a level of need which we all have
to become a new person. The fact is, all (who are accountable) have sinned (Romans
3:23; 1 John 1:8), and the consequence for sin is death, which is a separation from
God (Isaiah 59:1, 2; Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23). To be condemned and facing an
eternity separated from God in a devil’s Hell should make anyone want to have a
different life. God offers man the blessings of a new life in Christ. If we are going to
have this life we must be “born again” (John 3:3, 5). We put to death the old man of
sin, bury him in the watery grave of baptism and rise to walk in a newness of life
(Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26, 27; 1 John 1:7). Of course, there are many
characteristics which make up both the old and the new man. One characteristic of the
old lifestyle, which we must put to death, is dishonesty. “Lie not one to another, seeing
that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” (Colossians 3:9). Consider to whom
Christians owe the characteristic of honesty.
Christians owe it to the LORD to be honest. Of the many characteristics God
has, honesty is one that should bring us much comfort. His promises are trustworthy.
“That by two immutable things, in which it was IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE
(emph. mine B. K.), we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to
lay hold upon the hope set before us:” (Hebrews 6:18). Thayer defines consolation
(παράκλησις) as, “consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or
refreshment.” Our “strong consolation” is direct product of God’s honesty. We can
trust His honesty based upon the fact that He has done for us what He said He would
do (John 3:16; 10:11; 15:13). When one considers the fact that God promised to give
so much and kept His word, can we not see that we owe it to Him to be HONEST?
Christians owe it to THEMSELVES to be honest. As a New Testament
Christian, one must guard against selfishness (Luke 9:23; Titus 2:12). On the other
hand, there is a level of self-concern one must have in order to be saved. Consider the
words Peter said to the Jews on the day of Pentecost. “And with many other words did
he testify and exhort, saying, SAVE YOURSELVES from this untoward generation”
(Acts 2:40). Clearly one must take care of self before he can truly help others. Jesus
said, “Thou hypocrite, FIRST cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt
thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye” (Matthew 7:5).
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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 .............844-9944
Jeff Mansel..................871-0357
Harold Roby................844-5431
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............. 10:00 a.m.
Worship..................... 11:00 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. Community Outreach
Item: baby wipes
Baby wipes
--article continued from page 1—
There is only one way that we can obey
these commands; we must be honest with ourselves.
Life is a gift from God and far too often we take it
for granted. The prophet said to Israel long ago,
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I
have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that
the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn
ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O
house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). He is saying that
God does not want man to die lost and that God has
given man the way to turn from the wickedness of
the world. That being said, we owe it to ourselves to
make the turn. If someone said that the bridge ahead
was out, and we continued full speed ahead, whose
fault would it be if we crashed? We owe it to
ourselves to take advantage of God’s warnings.
John the revelator delivered the strongest warning
against dishonesty when he wrote, “...all liars shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone...” (Rev. 21:8).
So the question follows, “Have we been
paying that which we owe?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summer Outreach Project
We need your help to fill 100
backpacks for area schools. We will
plan to collect supplies from June
10th
-July 20th
!!!! So please take a tab
of your choice located in the foyer
on the coat rack and purchase the
items listed. If you have any
questions, please ask Kristie Webb or Renee Childers.
Gospel Singing
The Danville congregation in
Biggersville will hold their
17th
Annual Gospel Singing
this Friday, June 22 from
7:00-9:00 p.m. There is a
flyer on the bulletin board across from the library
with more information.
Foundations Camp
Several of our number will be gone to the
Foundations Camp held for the youth at the
Memphis School of Preaching from June 23-29.
Please keep them in your prayers.
Maywood Christian Camp
Our week at Maywood Christian Camp is July
15-21. Jeff Goff says close to 200 have already
registered. Go online today and secure your spot if
you haven’t already done so!
maywoodchristiancamp.com
John Duke is stationed in Long Beach, MS.
Matt Duke is stationed in Ft. Carson, CO.
Gabe Hood is stationed in Fort Lenardwood, MO.
Caleb Williams is stationed in Jacksonville, NC.

3. Daily Bible Reading
June 20 ...............................................Psalms 96-102
June 21 .............................................Psalms 103-104
June 22 .............................................Psalms 105-106
June 23 .............................................Psalms 107-109
June 24 .............................................Psalms 110-115
June 25 .............................................Psalms 116-118
June 26 .................................................... Psalms 119
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Birthdays: Clinton Kingsley (June 26).
Anniversaries: Ricky & Kim Johnson
(June 21), Will & Ashley Davis (June 25).
Our Sick
Doug Wallace is home from the hospital. Callie
Rasberry, Mike & Hilda Ratliff’s daughter is home
recuperating from surgery Monday. Trish Scribner’s
dad, Bland Walker, is in ICU at the Baptist Hospital
in Southaven. Malachi Millard got good results
from his ENT appointment at LeBonheur last week.
Nathan Hale is in the hospital in Corinth with
complications from MS.
On-Going Illnesses
Laverne Raper, Frankie Estes, Carester &
Charlie Ruth Hallmark, Adam McCurley, Bretta
Robinson, Mary Jordan, Donny Dulaney, James
Goddard, Ray Scribner, Bill Goff, Linda Bryan,
Mitch Maclean, Jadon Parish, James Nichols,
Stephanie Fears, Judy Lee, Betty Harrell, Sheba
Tuggers, Sherry Gregory, Derrick Coble, Shirley
Owens, Mickey Bailey, Mike Scott, Tracey
Wilbrurn, Sammy Carson
Nursing Homes/Assisted
Living
Clara Simmons, Nancy Haywood, Hilda
Roberts, Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona
Harris
Sr. Youth
The Senior Youth going to
the Memphis Redbirds game
this Friday, June 22 are
reminded to please get your
tickets from Tracy Lyle ahead
of time.
Visitation Team #4
Visitation team #4, Mike Ratliff’s team, will
meet briefly in Room 10 this Sunday, June 24 after
worship services at noon. There will be no meal.
Latin American Mission
Trip
Please keep Glenda Barnette in your prayers as
she will be leaving Friday to travel to Panama with
Amy Presley for a week’s mission campaign to
work with Spencer Broome and the Forest Park
congregation.

4. Men to Serve Sunday, June 24, 2018 a.m.
Announcements..................................... Wade Bryan
Bible Reading.......................................Britton Smith
Opening Prayer .........................................Tim Davis
Lord’s Supper
Jimmy Spearman & Wesley Bass
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Greg Lyle, Larry Long, Ricky Johnson
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Robert Parker, Larry Bates, Stuart Childers
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer......................................Larry Presley
Ushers ............. Jason Dickinson & David Ramseyer
Please be in the library by 8:50 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer ............................ Rommie Dilworth
Closing Prayer............................................Joe Smith
Lead Singing......................................Hugh Scribner
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Prayer ................................................Shawn Mounce
Lead Singing........................................John Mounce
Contact William Harris if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ..................... Bobby Joe & Brenda Lindley
...................................... Harold & Zan Roby
Prepare Lord’s Supper—June.........Diane Dickerson
& Carmen Perkins
Nursery..................Dundee Donald & Hallie Donald
Pantry............................................Spaghetti noodles
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 6-13-18..............................................159
Sunday Classes, 6-17-18......................................210
Sunday 1st
Worship..............................................247
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................188
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$7,039
Summer Series
Our Summer Series entitled “Geography & the Bible” continues to go well! All
Sunday morning adult classes & the high school class are meeting in the
auditorium for the summer quarter. Don’t miss out!
Date Topic Person
24-Jun-18 Macedonia Mark Hitt
1-Jul-18 Jordan River Roger Sanderson
8-Jul-18 Babylon Jeff Mansel
15-Jul-18 Canaan Mike Ratliff
22-Jul-18 Hebron Barry Kennedy
29-Jul-18 Island of Crete Michael Wilson
5-Aug-18 Garden of Gethsemane Wade Bryan
12-Aug-18 Mount Sinai Wesley Bass
19-Aug-18 Sea of Galilee Dennis Hallmark
26-Aug-18 Mars Hill Shawn Mounce