Pastor's Blog

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 21:1-22:20 Luke 20:1-26 Psalm 89:1-13 Proverbs 13:15-16

Jesus is alive!  Celebrate with us this morning at 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30AM!

I pray that you will have a great Easter Sunday with Jesus!

Miss Bea Unrue has been moved to ICU and placed on a respirator.  I visited with her this morning after they had moved her to ICU but before she was placed on the respirator.  They have put her in a medically induced coma while she is on the respirator.  Her condition is serious as she has two different bacteria in her body.  Pray!

Gail Bishop was sleeping soundly when I visited.

Rusty’s mom, Kay, was in hopes of going home today if she had a good night last night.  She did not have a good night so it looks as though she will remain in the hospital.

Art Elliott was sent home from the hospital yesterday.  He was sent home with oxygen but is doing ok.

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 19:1-20:9 Luke 19:28-48 Psalm 88:1-18 Proverbs 13:12-14

Years ago, I made the decision to not post an entry on Good Friday thus no post yesterday.

I plan on checking on the various folks in the hospitals today.  As far as I know, Art Elliott, Bea Unrue, Gail Bishop and Kay Suthoff all remain hospitalized.  I know Jack Love went home and I think Donald Stork did too.

Tena’s dad remains at home under hospice care.

Miss Willie Roberts got a great report from the doctor following her heart cath yesterday morning.  Bro. Kerry covered that one and I appreciate him doing so.

Our Easter services begin this morning at 9:15AM with classes for our Preschool and Children’s Departments followed by Preschool Church and Children’s Church and concluding with an egg hunt.  Everything should be over around 11:30AM.

Tonight, beginning at 6:00PM, our adult choir will present their Easter musical.  This is our Sunday night service and I encourage each member of the Friendship family to attend!  Invite folks from other churches as well if they are not having a service at their church.

Tomorrow morning will see us have three services – 7:30, 9:00, and 10:30AM.  Each one will feature special music (April Nicholson, adult choir, Crystal Mason & Randall Broome) and the preaching of Evangelist Michael Mason from Flint, Alabama.  I should not have to encourage folks to attend church on Easter Sunday!

The Disney World experience for 2014 is over for the Turrentine/Hutto/Taylor families as everyone arrived home safe and sound.  I am not a DW fan but I had a great time because of the grandchildren.  They loved it!  (Maybe not as much as Soy but they loved it nonetheless!)  We left Chloe McGath & Jada West (Azalea Trail Maids) in Orlando to handle things for the rest of the weekend!

I guess Rita Padilla’s rent came due as I see she has moved out!  I hope we get some nice neighbors this next time!

It is going to be a beautiful day!  Enjoy it!  I have the service to check on this morning, Mobile hospitals, and hope to get some grass mowed.  Need to be in the garden but it is way too wet for that.  Of course, I get to attend the service tonight as well.

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

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 15:1-63 Luke 18:18-43 Psalm 86:1-17 Proverbs 13:9-10

Received a call from Bill & Bea’s daughter, Rita, last night telling me that Bea Unrue was admitted to the hospital as she has pneumonia.

Mr. Jack Love was not discharged from the hospital and remains in CCU.

Gail Bishop has been having a rough time at night and remains hospitalized.

Rusty’s mom, Kay, remains hospitalized.

Art Elliott is hopeful that he may get to go home from the hospital either today or tomorrow.

Tena’s dad remains the same.

Miss Willie Roberts is scheduled for a heart cath early in the morning.

I forgot about Animal Kingdom which means that is where we are headed today.  I am happy!  The grandchildren are young and probably will not remember this trip but they are having a blast!  Soy too and he will remember!

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

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 13:1-14:15 Luke 18:1-17 Psalm 85:1-13 Proverbs 13:7-8

Bro. Kerry visited the hospitals yesterday and sent me the following report:

Mr. Jack Love’s valve replacement procedure went well.  As a matter of fact, if he feels well enough, he could go home today.  Amazing!

Auburn Sessions will supposed to go home yesterday afternoon if everything went as planned.

Gail Bishop is thinking that she will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.  That may be wishful thinking on her part although she was much better yesterday afternoon.

Art Elliott suffered a setback in that his pneumonia has gotten a little worse.  So, he will not be going home anytime soon.  His wife, Debra, has had strep but is better.

Bro. Chris Taylor sent me this report on Rusty’s mother, Kay.  She did well through the surgery but the doctors are not expressing optimism regarding her situation.  They will wait until the test results are in before making a definitive diagnosis.

Bro. Jerry sent me word that Tena’s dad, Mr. Alford, is seemingly getting worse day by day.  Tough days for the Alford family.

We need to focus, focus and focus on our services this weekend.  Classes and services on Saturday morning, 4/19, for the preschoolers through the 5th graders.  An egg hunt will follow preschool church and children’s church.  Everything begins at 9:15AM and will end around 11:30AM.

The adult choir will lead us in worship on Saturday night beginning at 6:00PM as they present their Easter musical.  This will be our Sunday night service this week.  I strongly encourage each member of the Friendship family to attend this worship service!

Evangelist Michael Mason and his wife, Crystal, will be our guests on Easter Sunday morning.  Bro. Michael will be preaching in the 7:30, 9:00, and 10:30AM services.  Crystal will be singing the call to worship in our 10:30AM service.  (April Nicholson will be doing so in the 7:30AM service and our adult choir will do so in the 9:00AM service)  Randall Broome will be bringing the message in song in all three of the services.  Folks, you do not want to miss these services!  Pray, attend, and bring a friend!

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight with one exception – there will be no 7:30PM Bible study.  The teachers and cooks are all out of town.  Otherwise, everything is normal.

Day two for the Hutto/Taylor/Turrentine families in this happy place called DW is now in the books!  I have heard a few folks speak English, a couple speak Mississippi and a few speak Spanish but the majority are speaking languages that I have never heard!  Daphne basically mapped out this excursion and she, like her Uncle Eddie, has us eating every two hours or so!  Soy & Brad wanted to ride the “tower of terror” but only if I would ride with them.  So Dana, Gina and I joined them.  They both screamed like middle school girls!

We have done the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood.  I think today is Epcot.  Since we will have done all three parks, does that mean tomorrow is an off day?  Not hardly!

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

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 11:1-12:24 Luke 17:11-37 Psalm 84:1-12 Proverbs 13:5-6

Jack Love is doing well and will be having surgery this morning.

Rusty’s mother had a MRI yesterday.

Gail Bishop had a rough night on Sunday but was better yesterday.

Art is being readied to go home.  Debra is sick.

Auburn Sessions, daughter of William & Amber, is in the hospital.

Miss Jackie Goff and Miss Jay Love both were discharged from the hospital.

Tena’s father remains at home under hospice care.

Services on Saturday morning (children) and evening (adult choir) and then three services on Easter Sunday morning – 7:30, 9:00 & 10:30AM.  Pray, attend, bring others!

Here are some numbers – 103, 95, 112, 1.3 and 712.  What?  The humidity in DW is 103%, the temp is at least 95 with a heat index of 112, there are 1.3 billion people in the park, and 712 of those 1.3 are riding the same bus as we are to and from the park!  In other words, this is a happy place!  I am happy!  Actually, it is a joy to spend time with our children and grandchildren.  Soy got a little scared on the Peter Pan ride yesterday afternoon but once I put my arm around him, he was ok.  He loved the “it’s a small world ride” and wanted to ride it over and over!

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

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 9:3-10:43 Luke 16:19-17:10 Psalm 83:1-18 Proverbs 13:4

Tuesday, 4/15 – Joshua 11:1-12:24 Luke 17:11-37 Psalm 84:1-12 Proverbs 13:5-6

Wednesday, 4/16 – Joshua 13:1-14:15 Luke 18:1-17 Psalm 85:1-13 Proverbs 13:7-8

Thursday, 4/17 – Joshua 15:1-63 Luke 18:18-43 Psalm 86:1-17 Proverbs 13:9-10

Friday, 4/18 – Joshua 16:1-18:28 Luke 19:1-27 Psalm 87:1-7 Proverbs 13:11

Saturday, 4/19 – Joshua 19:1-20:9 Luke 19:28-48 Psalm 88:1-18 Proverbs 13:12-14

Sunday, 4/20 – Joshua 21:1-22:20 Luke 20:1-26 Psalm 89:1-13 Proverbs 13:15-16

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  The Spring break hurt our attendance in the 10:30AM service but we were good in the first service and the evening service.  It is always a joy to baptize folks and such was the case last night with the two young ladies who followed Jesus in believer’s baptism.  Good stuff!

Special thanks to Bro. Chris Taylor and Bro. Jerrry Whitmore for their help with the video in the evening service.  (I have spent a great deal of time trying to help Bro. Chris learn this internet stuff and he is coming along!)

Mr. Jack Love will be having a procedure today and tomorrow.  I am not sure of the details but do know it is a two day process.

Rusty Suthoff’s mother, Kay, remains hospitalized and will do so at least all of this week.  They did discover cancer cells in the fluid they took from her lung area and will be doing some more testing this week.

Tena Hovel’s father, Mr. Alford, is not doing well.  He is at home under hospice care.

Art Elliott remains hospitalized as far as I know.

Miss Jackie Goff also remains hospitalized.

I am told by Bro. Jerry Whitmore that Bro. Johnny Tucker is in the hospital.  Something to do with an erratic heartbeat.

Brittney Wright Nelson will be having surgery on Thursday.  It has to do with a problem in her elbow.

Miss Willie Roberts will be having a heart cath on Friday morning.

This is a vacation week for me.  I am sitting on a plane in Gulfport, MS headed for “the happiest place on earth” or something like that!  The family drove down yesterday afternoon as they will stay one day longer than me.  Folks, I am not Clint Landry and DW is not high on my list – give me the mountains of Colorado and a pair of skis!  However, this is about the grandchildren so it will be good.

The rest of the ministerial staff are available and “on call” should you need them.  They will cover the surgeries.  Call on them if you need them.

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

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 5:1-7:15 Luke 15:1-32 Psalm 81:1-16 Proverbs 13:1

Bro. Benny will be leading folks in washing the buses this morning beginning at 9:00AM.  Want to help?  Just be there ready to work!

The Finance Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon at 4:00PM in the church office.

I need to meet with the Trustees tomorrow afternoon at 5:00PM in the church office.  This is important and is the first mention of this meeting.

Carlos Raxon’s surgery has been set for Tuesday, May 20.  I am praying that the schedule will change which will allow him to get an earlier surgery date.  Please join me in that prayer.

They found some cancer cells in the fluid they removed from Rusty’s mother.  Not sure what the next step in the process will be but do ask that you pray for her.

I want to say “thank you” to the members of the Friendship family who attended the visitation and/or service for Mr. Tommy Cole.  You did well.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening with the observance of the Lord’s Supper and baptism in the evening service.  It is supposed to be a beautiful day with a high of 78 and plenty of sunshine.  I encourage you to not forsake the assembling together as we meet for Bible study and worship.

I was able to get in three hours with the weed eater and one hour on the mower yesterday afternoon.  Probably have another hour and one half with the weed eater today, five on the mower, and then the garden will call my name.

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

Today’s Bible reading - Joshua 3:1-4:24 Luke 14:7-35 Psalm 80:1-19 Proverbs 12:27-28

The funeral service for Mr. Tommy Cole takes place this morning at 10:00AM from the chapel of the Pinecrest Funeral Home on DIP.  Keep praying for the Cole family.

Sara Ladnier did well through her procedure.  Kathy posted a comment on yesterday’s entry giving an update.

Art Elliott has pneumonia so he obviously remains hospitalized.

According to an update from Sue, Gail Bishop is much better.

Miss Jackie remains in ICU.

Miss Jay was not feeling well yesterday per Bro. Kerry.

Rusty’s mother was feeling better and was waiting on the results of some tests.  She was thinking that she “might” be discharged but I do not know if that happened or not.

The Lord did a good work yesterday in the fact that Carlos Raxon’s appointment with the doctor was moved up from 4/30 to this morning at 7:00AM (8:00AM our time).  Pray for wisdom on behalf of the doctor and for Carlos to get in for surgery quickly.

Today is the final day to order the Boston butts from the women’s group.  Call Anna Carol, Cecil or Brenda.

There will be a “bus washing” tomorrow morning at 9:00AM.  Want to help?  Great!  Just show up!

Regular schedule on Sunday morning/evening.  Lord’s Supper and baptism as a part of the Sunday evening service.  This will be an important day in the life of the Friendship family.

The Finance Committee will have their regular monthly meeting this Sunday, 4/13, at 4:00PM in the office suite.

Got to try to get a lot of yard work and garden work done this afternoon and tomorrow.  It is what I call my “quiet” time especially when it comes to the garden!

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

Today’s Bible reading - Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24 Luke 13:22-14:6 Psalm 79:1-13 Proverbs 12:26

Sara Ladnier is having an extensive test performed today in order for the doctors to try and determine the cause of her pain/discomfort.  Pray this test will provide the information needed.

Tena Hovel’s father has been given a limited amount of time on this earth in the opinion of the healthcare professionals.  Pray for physical comfort for him and spiritual comfort for his family.

Art had a rough night on Tuesday which almost put him back in ICU.  However, he remains in a regular room.

Miss Jay Love is scheduled to possibly go home tomorrow.

Miss Jackie remains in ICU.

Gail Bishop is better but remains hospitalized.

Lisa Thompson received a treatment on Monday and it has thrown her for a loop.

Rusty’s mother remains hospitalized.

Carlos Raxon (Guatemala) needs surgery because of his cancer.  John & Laurie King and Tico Vargas are working on making this happen.

Mike Clark (Guatemala) needs surgery on his back and that should take place within the next month or so.

The visitation with the Tommy Cole family takes place tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM from Pinecrest Funeral Home on DIP.

The bus ministry team will be washing the buses this Saturday morning beginning around 9:00AM.  Want to help?  Come on down!

Anyone wishing to order a Boston butt from the ladies must do so by tomorrow.  Cost is $30.  Contact Anna Carol, Brenda or Cecil to order or for more information.

What a beautiful day we enjoyed yesterday!  The attendance in our morning service was once again really, really good.  The evening attendance was good as well.  We give God the glory!

Dale, Karla & Harper are doing ministry in Texas these days.  Pray for them!

Caroline Ford was talking about Gene Davis yesterday.  We were talking about Carlos Raxon and Guatemala and I guess it brought back memories of previous trips with Gene and others (I never know how a woman thinks!)  Anyway, Gena, are you guys still alive?

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