Pastor's Blog

Welcome to the afternoon edition of today’s blog.  Why late?  Technical difficulties.  Sorry!

What an awesome Sunday the Lord blessed us with yesterday!  Strong attendances.  An excellent Spirit was present all day long.  The “souper” fellowship following our evening service as super!  We adopted a 2025 budget, voted to renovate the foyer (including the two bathrooms) and to build the bus barn.  Pastor Alfredo and our Hispanic family members joined us for the evening service and the fellowship.  Great day!  Thank you Jesus!

NO services, classes, et cetera on our campus this Wednesday, January 22, 2025.  Nothing will be taking place.  Please pass the word as not everyone reads my blog entries!

Phil Sims is in the hospital and will have major heart surgery on Thursday, 1/23.  Pray for all to go well.

Bro. Jerry is also in a local hospital. Pray for the medical folks to diagnose his problems.

After watching the events in the rotunda today, I am going to give Rhett, Shawn, Brandon, Titus and anyone else involved a pass when it comes to technical difficulties in our auditorium.  Carrie Underwood did an outstanding job of singing avocado!

I pray that you will have a great Monday afternoon with Jesus!

Good morning on this a “bit cool” Friday morning.  “If” the weather folks are correct, today will be like a heat wave compared to what is heading our way from Siberia early next week.  No wonder Sgt. Hans Georg Schultz always dreaded the possibility of being assigned to Siberia!  Smart guy!

I have been following the weather forecast (obviously) and I love it when they say it “may” snow next Tuesday but they will know more after two or three more days pass by.  Hello!  I will know by next Thursday!  LOL!

So, I have prayed and thought about it and have reached this decision.  We are going to move all of our Wednesday night services/classes set for 1/22 to this Sunday night, 1/19, beginning at 5:00PM.  I will teach/preach from the book of Titus.  Then, we will move to the CAB for a time of food and fellowship.  The food will be soup and/or chili plus dessert.  Here is what we need you to bring:  yourself, your family, guests and enough of your favorite soup/chili and dessert to feed those coming with you plus two others.

Then, our campus will be empty on Wednesday, 1/22, with no services, classes, et cetera.  Pass the word as (this may surprise you!) not everyone reads my blog entries.  Deidra and Daphne, help me here!  By the way, stock up on bread and milk on Monday.  Why?  Because that is what you do when an impending snow/sleet storm is coming!  Hello!

Our Finance Committee will present the proposed 2025 budget in a meeting scheduled to begin at 4:00PM this Sunday, 1/19.  Yes, it will be a time to ask questions and to have discussion.  My prayer is that it will be more of a time of adoration to God for His financial blessings on the Friendship family.  God has been good to us!  I also pray that it will be a time of affirmation for our Finance Committee as they, in my opinion, have done an excellent job of leading us financially.  Thank you, brothers!  May it also be a time for each of us to examine our giving to the Lord through the church.  Are we being faithful individually?  I am very thankful to God and to each person who gives to Him through the church.

Lisa and I went to eat “supper” at Waffle House last night.  (If it is good enough for Sonny & Jeanette then it good enough for us!). Remember the Pentecostals from last Thursday night?  Lisa and I settle into our booth last night and in walks another Pentecostal.  “Oh, how are you guys doing?  Just stopped by to get some food for my family and me.  Yes, I heard about you seeing some of our church family members in here last week.  That was so nice of you to buy their meal!”  I will let you finish the story!  We have to stop going to the local WH!

Got to speak with Bro. Abel yesterday about their trip.  He did finish the marathon ahead of Pam Baker.  However, Pam rode three rides and ate three turkey legs while Bro. Abel could only do two of each.

Basketball tonight and tomorrow in our CAB.  Early soccer registration takes place this weekend too.  Pray for our sports ministry.  I am thankful for Bro. Abel and all who help in this ministry.  Even if you do not want to watch basketball or sign up for soccer, come support our student ministry by buying a combo meal from the concession stand.  Five dollars will get you a burger, fries and soft drink.  You will not beat that price!

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  Friendship family, remember the soup/chili/dessert fellowship this Sunday night, 1/19, following the evening service.  (Bro. Jerry Whitmore – this is not a “souper soup fellowship!”  Just saying.  LOL!)

Amazing!  Just amazing!  Stacie Sessions had surgery on Tuesday, arrived home around 3:00PM yesterday and was in our 6:30PM service last night.  Are you kidding me?  I asked her, “why are you here?”  Her reply, “because God wants me here and the devil does not!”  Amazing!

Good day in our services yesterday.  Praise the Lord!  Thank you to those who attended!

Ladies Helping Hands will meet tonight beginning at 6:00PM in the preschool building.  All ladies invited to attend.

Yancey Hall will begin receiving chemo treatments next week.  Pray for Yancey.

Our Finance Committee will lead our meeting this Sunday, 1/19, to discuss the proposed budget for 2025.  A vote, with no further discussion, will take place in our evening service.  Again, I appreciate this committee and their efforts.  Obviously, God has blessed us and we give Him the praise!

I did not realize until yesterday that the evening with the Inspirations will begin at 6:00PM on Friday, February 7.  A love offering will be received.  Pray and, if possible, attend.

Yesterday afternoon, Bro. Chris & I met with the officer who will be on duty on our campus beginning this Sunday, 1/19.

I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.

Good morning! Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  I hope to be joined by a good number of the Friendship family.

Stacie Sessions had surgery yesterday.  As far as I know, all went well,  Pray for her recovery.

No updates on the others for whom we have been praying.  Keep praying.

We are “safe” from the colder temperatures until this Sunday night.  We will then see lows of 26, 28 & 29 on consecutive nights.

Friendship family, we have a great need for nursery and preschool workers this year.  Some of our seasoned workers have served for years and we need to help them by finding others (younger) folks to serve.  Contact Katelyn Johnson if you will help!

Proposed budget meeting this Sunday afternoon at 4:00PM in the auditorium.  Vote on the budget, no further discussion, during the evening service.

Pray for the folks being affected by the fires in California.

Spoke to a friend, Don Redder, in Michigan yesterday around noon.  They had just gotten nine inches of snow in three hours.  Wow!

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Thank you, Jesus.  I appreciate folks who are faithful!

The Inspirations will be at Friendship on Friday night, 2/7.  Everyone welcome.  Invite others to join you.

Pastor Jim Reed is off the ventilator and is breathing on his own.  He has been moved from ICU to a regular room.  Praise the Lord!

Tonya Gordon’s great nephew, Rylan, was scheduled to come off the ventilator yesterday.  Keep praying!

Aninha Barrett’s brother will be having surgery tomorrow.  Pray for all to go well.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday – morning and evening.

The second mission team of 2025 arrived on GRACE Mountain yesterday (last night).  They lost Friday and Saturday so pray they can have a productive time during the days they are in country.

Deidra posted another blog entry this past Saturday.  Two entries in one year – amazing!  Good read.

Bro. Abel finished the marathon.  Congratulations!

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

Good morning!  My kind of weather day – cooler and raining!  Honestly, I would love to be in the northern part of Alabama watching it snow!  I love watching the snow fall!  So, watching a nice soft rain is a nice alternative.

Bro. Abel is visiting with M&M in Orlando.  So, he will not be present to lead our basketball ministry tonight and tomorrow.  Have no fear as Shawn & Kristi have this covered!  They do a great job!  Two games tonight and eight games tomorrow.  Pray for this ministry!

Hey, want to help our student ministry?  Come buy a meal from the concession stand tonight/tomorrow as all proceeds go to help our students attend camp this Summer.  You can get a hamburger, fries and a drink for only five dollars.  Best deal in town!  And all for a great cause!  You do not have to watch the game(s).  We just need your support!

Remember, there is a noon deadline (today) to place an order for Stacey’s & Gayla’s gumbo.  See yesterday’s entry for the information.

Keep praying for Pastor Jim Reed.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

A word of special thanks to James Clark and Scott Fontenot.  James came to our house on Monday and greatly improved our internet service.  We were downloading at two or three and now we are at twenty.  Awesome!  James is the man!  (Rhett taught him everything he knows!).  Scott came at 9:30PM on Wednesday night and drove me to Mobile.  Greatly appreciated!  Scott, welcome to the world of being a deacon – just saying!

Most of the folks who left GRACE Mountain got home early, early this morning.  Some are still in the airports.  The second group (Michigan) who were supposed to arrive on GRACE Mountain remain at home.  They should be able to fly tomorrow and Sunday.  Both groups have had amazing attitudes through it all.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.

P.S. – Lisa and I went to WH last night for supper.  Got hit up by a couple of Pentecostals wanting us to pick up their ticket.  Said something like, “gave all of our money in the church offering!”  Those Pentecostals!

Let me begin with a PSA – Stacey & Gayla Dyess are cooking seafood gumbo this weekend as they are helping a granddaughter’s cheer squad raise funds to go to nationals.  Seventy-eight ($78) a gallon; twenty ($20) a quart.  Orders need to be placed no later than noon tomorrow, 1/10/25.  Gumbo will be delivered on Monday, 1/13/25.  You can contact Gayla at (251) 463 0577.  Stacey has a good reputation for his gumbo.  No obligation.  Just FYI.

Pastor Reed continues to make progress.  Thank you for praying!

Tonya’s great-nephew obviously continues to need our prayer support.

Miracle of miracles – Deidra posted a blog on the SLAM website today.  Pretty transparent.  She is so jealous of my baker’s dozen readers and only wishes she had such a following.  Just saying!

The first team of 2025 to do ministry on GRACE Mountain arrived on 1/2 and left early this morning.  One small problem – the winter storm in Dallas which is their connecting point.  So, they are delayed.  The second team was set to arrive on GRACE Mountain today.  One small problem – the winter storm in Dallas which is also their connecting point.  They are working now to try and get to GRACE Mountain tomorrow.  Pray for these two Michigan teams.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 1/12.

Basketball leagues resume play tomorrow night, 1/10, and Saturday, 1/11.  Pray for this ministry.

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Thursday with Jesus.  Let’s go!

NO 10:00AM service on our campus today, 1/8/25.  I have made this decision out of respect and concern for our senior saints due to the “colder than normal” temperatures for our area.  The wind from the North is a major factor in this decision.  As I wrote yesterday, I do NOT want our senior saints to attend our 6:30PM service either.  Senior saints, stay home, stay home, stay home!

Tonya Gordon’s great nephew, Rylan, came through his surgery well yesterday.  Keep praying!

Pastor Jim Reed had another good day yesterday.  He remains on a vent but the settings are minimal.  All stats and vitals remain in the acceptable range.  I do appreciate the updates that Burl Brewer has sent to me.  Burl is a great updater!

A big change is coming to the Friendship campus!  It began yesterday.  I am excited and blessed!  Answer to prayer.

Are you remembering to forget the past and to press toward the mark?  Let’s go!

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus!

Our daughter, Daphne, read my earlier entry and called to let me know that the message about Rylan’s relative came from Tonya Gordon.  I should have remembered that as Tonya has faithfully asked us on Wednesday nights to pray for her soon to be born great nephew.  Tonya, I am sorry for not remembering but I have been, and am, praying for Rylan, the doctors and the family.  Tonya is a sweetheart!  (I fully expect Deidra will call soon to also remind me!)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – I have made the decision to NOT have our 10:00AM service tomorrow, 1/8.  (Ignore what I wrote in my letter yesterday)  The real temperature at 10:00AM tomorrow is forecasted to be forty degrees which is not bad.  However, the forecast also calls for wind from the North at ten miles per hour which means the wind chill will be chilly!  Our morning service is mainly attended by our senior saints and I feel it is best for them to stay home.  They are our most faithful group within the church.  I do not want them to then try to come to our 6:30PM service.  Senior saints, stay home tomorrow!  Please pass the word!  (For whatever reason, there are those who seemingly get a thrill out of telling me that not everyone reads my blog daily!  I have gone for all these years thinking the entire eight billion folks on the earth are daily readers.  Talk about being disappointed!  As long as Deidra and Daphne are daily readers, I am good!)

YES, we will have our 6:30PM service and activities tomorrow night.  Pass the word because not everyone reads my blog daily!

I received a text message earlier this morning from someone asking me to pray for their great nephew, Rylan, who is having heart surgery this morning.  Rylan was born on 12/31/24.  (My phone only showed a number and not a name.  Whoever it is was headed to UAB when they contacted me) The Lord knows so please pray for Rylan.

Pastor Jim Reed got another new critical care doctor onboard yesterday.  He is wanting to start the process of waking Pastor Jim up.  Pray for all his stats to remain good and for healing to his lungs and kidneys.  Pray, pray, pray!

Walter Kessler, NBA player and former Auburn player, is the boyfriend of the new Miss America.  He and a friend were watching the pageant on a cell phone and his reaction was priceless when the winner was announced.  Do you know what Walter’s friend said?  “Let’s go!”

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  Stay warm!  Senior saints, stay home!