Pastor’s Blog

I read Pastor Jack Bailey’s blog entry around noon yesterday and was shocked to learn that Randall Osborn had passed away earlier in the day.  Randall was two years ahead of me in high school.  His passing came while he was asleep and apparently was a heart attack.  Randall was healthy and athletic.  Oddly enough, he was to be a pall bearer in a funeral service today and now his family will gather at the funeral home for his service.  He leaves behind a wife, three grown children, and one grandchild.  Pray for the Osborn family during this difficult time.  Pray for family of believers at Danville Baptist Church too.

My “holiday” consisted of being on the backside of a weed eater for about five hours and then doing some mowing.  Thankfully, Soy & Charles helped with the mowing.  (Mind you, Charles mows while sitting inside the cab of an air conditioned tractor)  So, since Charles “helped” with the grass, he figured it would be a nice gesture if I washed his truck and Ann’s car.  Said I didn’t have anything else to do and we were eating supper at his house and he had provided the meat.  Soy then brought his vehicle over to be washed too.  My in-laws are killing me!

Congrats to Boise State on last night’s victory over VT.  Good game.  Can’t wait till Thursday night to watch the AU vs MSU game.  Will State get fined for the cowbells?  Do Baptist preachers like chicken?

The office is open today and it promises to be a busy one.  Deacons, please remember our meeting tomorrow night at 6:00PM.

Hope you have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

I certainly give God the glory while also saying a huge “thank you” to the Friendship family for being so faithful to attend the services over the Labor Day holiday weekend.  Yes, we had a significant number of folks out of town but we also had some very good services with very strong attendances.  Obviously, the greatest thing was seeing one young man accept Jesus as his personal Savior during the evening service last night.  It was neat to hear the young girls reciting the Bible verses learned in AWANA’s too.  We had out of town and in town guests in all of our services.  God is good!

Bro. Chris Taylor did a nice job in bringing the message during last night’s service while his cousin, Austin Taylor, did a nice job of bringing the message in song.

As it stands right now, we have no members of the Friendship family in a local hospital as Miss Bea & Zanetta both came home over the weekend.  Miss Cora Martin, Clara Broadus’ mother, suffered a stroke Saturday night and is in a hospital in Troy, AL.  Pattie updated us on Gage’s condition via a comment on Friday’s post.  Miss Joyce Bosarge continues to need our prayer support as do all those battling cancer.

Miss Alva Hayes, sister of Miss Avon Glass, passed away Saturday morning.  Her service will take place on Wednesday morning in Foley.  I will post the complete arrangements once I have them.  Pray for Mariam, Wanda, Stella and the entire family during this time.

Mr. Mil Compagner is Tom’s dad.  He is having some physical problems but I am not sure to what extent as the voice mail Tom left me was not good quality.  Pray for him!

Bama fans and Auburn fans are all smiles today after their respective victories this past Saturday.  However, the competition gets much tougher for both teams this week with AU traveling to MSU on Thursday night while Bama hosts PSU on Saturday night.  I do not expect Ingram back for the PSU game.

Yes, Tico caught some fish – red snapper, white trout, and one shark.  He had a good day and I appreciate Tony Hacker taking us out.  Good memory!

It is almost 7:30AM.  I did not mow at my in-laws Saturday and Charles has already called this morning “wondering” what I am doing today!  So, the weed eater and mower will be my companions today.

Friendship family, remember that Bro. Jerry Hovel is on vacation this week so please don’t contact him for any reason.  Again, I don’t know if he is staying local or going global but don’t contact him.  Thanks!

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

Zanetta Warren looked like she felt really badly whenever I visited her in the hospital yesterday afternoon.  The staph infection is really working on her and she continues to run an elevated temperature.  Pray for her healing!

On the other hand, Miss Bea seems as content as can be as she patiently waits on the doctor to tell her what is next.  They have not allowed her to get up yet due to the blood clot so she obviously remains hospitalized.  Keep praying for Bea & Bill.

Talked to Kathy Wadkins via the phone yesterday morning.  Kayla had a very rough day on Wednesday but did rest some that night.  It seems they may have had her over medicated and that added to her already existing problems.  Pray for them to know exactly what is wrong with her and to be able to treat her.  Kathy’s son, Kolton, has strep but is better.  Pray for him!

Didn’t get an update on Lewis Jackson or Miss Vinnie’s daughter, Shirley Nelson but know they need our prayers too.  Did talk to Liz Whalen Wednesday night about Miss Joyce Bosarge and she continues to need our prayers as she is still having problems with her neck due to the cancer.   Pray for all those battling cancer.

Edna H. Glover has a brother, Sidney Miller, in the hospital in Jackson, MS as he suffered a stroke earlier this week.  Pray for his complete recovery.

The Lord is good!  Took Dr. Tico to buy a non-resident fishing license yesterday afternoon so we could go catch some white trout & ground mullet today.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when Tony called last night to say the federal waters had opened so we can now go out about 30 miles today.  Folks, Tico has never even been fishing.  He may be chumming for Tony & me today but at least he will be able to say he has been fishing!  I hope the waters aren’t too rough for his sake!  (It is 2:30AM and Lisa says I can go if I get the groceries bought before daybreak and some of the grass mowed – tough woman!)

USC, east and west, looked good last night.  The Utes beat Pitt – wow!  UAB lost a heart breaker.  Lord willing, I will be in attendance for the Bama game tomorrow night.  Hooray for college football!

It is a holiday weekend.  I know we will have folks out of town but my prayer is that those members of the Friendship family in town will be faithful to attend our services.  We are on a regular schedule this Sunday.  Our students will go late night bowling Sunday night.  I pray that each of you will have a blessed weekend.  I do not plan on posting again until Monday morning at the earliest (possibly Tuesday) unless Dr. Tico catches a world record fish today!

The work night scheduled for 5:00PM has been called off.  Why?

Some of the “who?” folks within the Friendship family showed up today and completely cleaned the rooms that will receive carpet tonight.  I know that Betty Creech & Judy Blackwell were involved but I don’t know “who” else.  If I find out, I will give credit where credit is due.  The neat thing is that God knows and He keeps great records!

First, Bro. Jerry Hovel is on vacation today through Saturday, 9/11.  I have no idea whether he is staying local or traveling but do ask that you respect his time off by not calling/contacting him about anything.

Zanetta Warren (Max Peacock’s daughter) was admitted to the hospital yesterday after having been discharged on Monday afternoon.  Bea Unrue remains hospitalized.  Kayla Huffman (Kathy Wadkins’ daughter) was taken to the emergency room yesterday but I don’t know the outcome of that situation.  Lewis Jackson sees the doctor today and they will decide whether to take another route in his treatment.  Miss Vinnie Brewer’s daughter, Shirley Nelson, has a blood clot in her leg caused by the heart cath of last week.  She is at home (TN) on bed rest and taking shots daily.

Chris Howell has the carpet cut and ready to install in the rooms on the south side (upstairs) of the CAB.  He plans on doing that work tonight.  So, we need to get the rooms cleaned out, the floors swept, et cetera prior to 6:00PM tonight.  Anyone can come at any time today to work on this but we will meet at 5:00PM to get ahead of Chris.  One step closer to completion – praise the Lord!

Steve, it is official – the Cards are toast!

It is USM vs USC tonight to begin the college football season.  Lord willing, I will find a spot in front of the television and begin counting down the hours to Bama’s season opener.

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

Bea Unrue remains hospitalized.  I am always blessed to visit Bea as she has such a positive attitude.  She doesn’t complain but is just allowing the doctors to treat her condition as they see best.

Sanna Collier spent Monday night and most of yesterday in the hospital.  She went through a battery of tests and was sent home yesterday afternoon.  I think they decided the problem was simply being married to Eric for all of these years!  LOL!

Lewis Jackson goes back to the doctor tomorrow.  That visit will determine the next course of action.

Jan posted a comment on yesterday’s blog updating Miss Peggy Cummings’ situation.  Thankfully, she is seemingly on the road to recovery.

Mark Ingram had surgery yesterday.  The prediction from this corner is that he will not play football until 9/25.  That is a huge loss for the Tide!

Steve, those Cards are 7 games out – it appears to be over!  I continue to be impressed with the Braves although I am not a fan!

Regular Wednesday at Friendship beginning with our 10:00AM service and ending with the Radical Bible study at 8:00PM.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in attendance today/tonight.  Finance committee will meet at 6:00PM.

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

Bea Unrue was admitted to the hospital yesterday morning with a blood clot in her leg (left one I think – if not it is her right one!).  Zanetta Warren, daughter of Max Peacock, spent about ten days in the hospital with a staph infection but was discharged yesterday afternoon.

Lewis Jackson went back to the doctor yesterday and, if no improvement is made by Thursday, they are going to consider another plan of action.  I visited with Martha Patrick yesterday afternoon and found Janice Moreland & Louise Morris there too.  Martha still needs our prayers.

Visited with James Davis in the convalescent home yesterday afternoon.  He did some PT yesterday morning.  Keep praying for him.

Kathy Wadkins’ mother, Peggy Cummings, continues to struggle in her recovery from her broken ankle.  The swelling remains a problem whenever she doesn’t have her foot elevated.  Kayla Huffman had some oral surgery last week and that is compounded by some other physical problems she has been experiencing lately.  So, pray for Kathy’s mother & daughter.

We had 17 or so folks out for visitation last night – thank you to those who participated.  I didn’t get back to the church until 8:20PM or so which means I didn’t get to hear the reports.

I did take some time to watch some of the Grand Bay Middle School vs Alba volleyball match late yesterday afternoon.  I was just glad to be sitting behind Trish Blackwell so she could keep me informed of all the rules and such!

Found out last night that T. Garrett did not attend church this past Sunday.  However, I going to give him a pass – this time!  He went to work last Thursday morning at 7:00AM and didn’t get home until 11:00PM on Friday night.  He really should consider getting a GPS!

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

Wow, the rains came down!  The floods did not go up but we did have some rain over the weekend!  ”They” say statistics show one drop of rain will keep 40 Baptists from attending a church service.  Well, our attendance yesterday was affected but not as much as I thought it might be.  The rain was coming in buckets just prior to the 8:00AM service.  All in all, we had a very good day in Bible study and worship – glory to God!  Thanks to those who continue to be faithful!

Austin Bosarge is having surgery on his hand this morning.  (I am posting late so it may already be finished)  Bro. Chris has gone to sit with the family during this procedure.

James Davis was moved to the convalescent home Friday afternoon.  They should begin his physical therapy today.  Amy Huhn’s nephew continues to improve although he is still in the hospital.  Rob Nevin was in our 10:30AM service yesterday but was unable to be with us last night.  Larry Blackwell was able to be in our services yesterday too!

Thank God for the Tabitha like persons within the Friendship family.  Have you thanked them?

It’s here!  The college football season begins this week!  Awesome!

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

P.S. – Can somebody help me find August, 2010?  It seems it was gone before it ever got here!

P.S.S. – The real reason this post is late can be summed up in two words – Dave Westhouse!

Phone conversation #1:

Hello.  Is it raining at your house? No, I just came in from finishing the mowing and weed eating.  It isn’t raining here either – guess the weather man was wrong, huh? Supposed to rain this afternoon.  Wow, our grass sure has grown a lot with all the rain we’ve had this past week! Our’s too. You got your mower back, huh? Yes.  I am just glad that you can keep it in MY barn. I am heading out the door to come mow your lawn.  Really?  You don’t have to do that.  How did you know it needed cutting?  Ann will be happy as she likes it when you mow our lawn.

Phone conversation #2:

Hello.  How are Brad’s dogs? Huh?  I am sure you saw them while you were mowing Brad’s grass today! I did but I didn’t pay any attention.  My dog is in the hospital. I heard.  I have been so busy with my sick dog that I didn’t get to mow our lawn this week.  My mind just hasn’t been with it b/c of my dog’s situation.  Deidra wants our grass cut today but I am working! Really.  Did I mention my dog is in the hospital?  If he weren’t, I would have gotten the grass cut. Whatever!

So, my today consisted of finishing our yard and then waiting on Will Reynolds for about three hours, mowing Charles & Ann’s (for Ann) yard, mowing Brad & Daphne’s (for Titus) yard, mowing Soy & Deidra’s (strictly for Deidra) yard and most of the skating rink grass before getting drenched!  I fully expect my gear box to explode tonight as I cut grass in the rain today!

Word came that James Davis was being moved to the convalescent home yesterday afternoon.  This will allow him to receive physical therapy for his rehabilitation.  Pray for James, Imelda and family.

Fishing?  Yesterday?  Whatever!  If Tony Hacker ever gives you a marine weather forecast. . .   In other words, if he says “good morning” then start looking for your pajamas!  Tony had told me all week about how “great” the weather was going to be on Friday!  (I guess he didn’t specify which Friday?)  Obviously, if we were going to fish yesterday, it would have been in the ditch in front of the house!

It appears today will be a repeat of yesterday.  Boy, Charles is going to be upset with me b/c his lawn will not get mowed.  I recently learned from a very smart man that you cannot cut the grass when it is wet so that should eliminate tomorrow.  (The wet grass is what shredded the gear box in my mower)  Wow, that Soy is a walking encyclopedia!

Saw where Faith Academy won last night while Bryant lost against Daphne.  I am going to say that Bryant’s announcer did a better job than Faith’s!

Hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our services tomorrow.  To the rest of our readers, go to church!  That includes one T. Garrett Wright!