Pastor's Blog

I was very pleasantly surprised with the attendance in our morning service yesterday.  We did not fill each chair in the auditorium but we came close.  The amazing thing to me is that the forecast was rain followed by more rain.  That did not deter the baptists from the Friendship family.  I am most thankful!

Sandra Francisco has been diagnosed with a malignancy.  More test results should come early this week.  Pray for Sandra!  By the way, she did get her cast removed so that is good news.

Well, I am now down to two Sundays and one Wednesday as the pastor of the Friendship family.  Unbelievable!  Thank you to Carl Ray Moulds for sharing some encouraging words yesterday in the morning service.  Carl Ray was on the pastor search committee that presented me to the Friendship family for their consideration as the pastor.

Cecil Guidry and an out of town guest will share in the morning service this Sunday, 10/11.

This entry is being written from Elizabethtown, KY while sitting in a hotel lobby.  It is past midnight here and almost midnight in South Mobile County.  A group of us are traveling to Holland, MI for the annual GRACE Gathering which will take place Tuesday night, 10/6.  Looking for a great time of sharing with some of the supporters in southwest Michigan.  Special thanks to Dana Taylor for helping locate the shrimp.  They look amazing!

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

Happy thirtieth birthday to our twins, Dana & Gina!  Thirty years old!  Wow, I can still see them as precious little infants and that seems so like yesterday.  Now they each have a son.  Where has the time gone?  Thank you Friendship family for loving our twins unconditionally.  We love Dana & Gina.  Girls, happy birthday!

Well, the weather forecasters are now predicting that today and tomorrow will see Grand Bay get a lot of rain.  Those of us who live South of the tracks saw very little in the way of rain yesterday.  We have seen very little for the past few months.  I have zero complaints as God knows what He is doing.  As one who enjoys the rain I do hope we will see a few buckets full today and tomorrow.  Again, let it rain!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be preaching in the morning service and Bro. Abel will be doing so in the evening service.  Friendship family, come join us!

The record shows that I have posted six thousand five hundred and forty seven blog entries since 2/14/07.  That equals  an entry per day for just under eighteen years if they were consecutive.  Pretty amazing!  The wonder of it all is that our readership has exploded to thirteen readers per day during that time.  No other pastor in the history of the Friendship family has come close to those numbers!  Will the next pastor rival that?

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

Good morning on this Friday.  The date of October 2 will always be etched into our memories as Soy passed from this life three years ago today.  Deidra, Lisa and I were talking earlier today about how it seems like three hours ago while also feeling like it was thirty years ago.  Strange how that works.  Pray for Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey today.  Thank you!

John Wayne Bosarge is supposed to be discharged from the hospital today.  Obviously, he has greatly improved.  Keep praying.

NO soccer games tonight or in the morning due to the forecasted rain.  How much will it rain?  Only the Lord knows but I will be thankful for any rain He sends to South Mobile County.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  I hope you will join us for Bible study and worship.

If my math is correct then there could possibly be only sixteen more blog entries to write after today.  The first entry was written on February 14, 2007.  Wow!  I will have to check and see how many entries have been posted over the past almost twenty years.  Thirteen folks are about to have to make an adjustment to their daily schedule.

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

The soccer games scheduled for tomorrow night and Saturday morning on our campus have been postponed.  Bro. Abel is the source for more information.  Let it rain!

John Wayne Bosarge was much improved yesterday afternoon.  Seems he will be in the hospital for another day or two.  Keep praying!

Dana Snow has to go to the hospital daily for a shot.  This will continue through Monday, 10/5.  The process takes a minimum of four hours.  Her options were to to this or remain in the hospital until Monday.

Good day in our services yesterday.  Our Wednesday morning services are just so special to me.  Yes, I will miss those when I am away.  Really good and sweet spirit in our service last night.  Praise the Lord!

It is good to have Deidra and the girls with us for a few days.  Deidra is glad to spend time with Charles & Ann.

Folks are wanting to know the back story to my retirement.  Here it is:  I am sixty-six years, four months and thirteen days old.  As far as I know I am in good health.  I want to have the freedom to be involved in mission work as the Lord leads.  I love the Friendship family which is why I will continue to serve and worship here when I am in town.  I have stated this publicly for the past several years.  The Lord gave me a peace about retiring from the pastorate.  I did not resign, I retired under zero pressure.    However, Lord willing, I will still be deeply involved in doing ministry.  End of story!  (I have shared this information in strictest confidence so please keep it just between us!  LOL!)

By the way, I will still be available to do celebration of life services.  However, my fee has doubled!  Weddings?  Retired!

The soccer games scheduled for this Friday evening, 10/2, and Saturday morning, 10/3, have been postponed.  See the Friendship sports page for the details.

An even later entry.  (Strange thing is that I distinctly remember posting an entry early this morning.  Oh well!)

Tina Sprinkle’s father, John Wayne Bosarge, was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  He is better today.  Pray for John Wayne.

Our daughter, Dana, was discharged from the hospital late yesterday afternoon.  Thank you for praying for her.

Regular worship schedule on our campus today.

A nice surprise for tonight.  Beginning at 5:15PM everyone is invited to come for a hamburger and/or hotdog supper.  The respective services & classes will begin at 6:00PM.  Pass the word!

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

Late entry.  My apologies.

Keep praying for Sandra Francisco and Donnie Felps in their respective health situations.

Our daughter, Dana, was admitted to the hospital last night due to some concerns regarding her pregnancy.  We are in a “wait and see” mode right now.  She has begun dilating.  She has an infection.  She is pregnant.  It will be a boy or a girl.  I have told you all I know.  We ask for prayers.

Deidra and the girls should arrive here around noon or early afternoon today.  They will basically stop by for a cup of coffee and then head North.

Thank you to folks who have been so gracious in your calls, emails, iMessages, et cetera.  I will reply to each one although it may take me a few days to do so.  I planned on beginning the process last night but this baby thing threw the proverbial wrench in those plans.

Our grandson, Asher, is playing Fall baseball.  This is his first exposure to playing baseball and last night was his third game.  He was hitless in games one and two but got a nice single up the middle last night.  Can you say, “happy camper?”  We were happy for him.

I am now being told there will be some type of “get out of town” fellowship on Sunday afternoon, 10/18.  My preference would simply be to preach that Sunday morning and evening and then come home.  I think the deacons do not want to have to listen to me preach one more time so this fellowship was planned.  Just saying!  They are missing the opportunity for a good nap!  I guess more details will be coming.

I went to Evergreen yesterday afternoon because we needed some things from the Conecuh store.  I am in the parking lot and I hear “Bro. Teddy” and there stood Johnathan, Jamie & Jo Anna Jo Jordan.  Danni was in the vehicle fast asleep.  I left for home before them but it did not take long for lead foot to pass me like I was sitting still.  Where are the troopers when you need them?  (Asking for a friend!)

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

Sandra Francisco will have some medical tests done today.  She is nervous. Please join me in praying for Sandra.  Pray for good results.

Donnie Felps remains at home but is physically weak.  Keep praying for Donnie. Pray for Marisa too.  She is a great wife to Donnie.

Charles Clark did come home from the hospital.  He is much improved but, honestly, that does not mean he is jumping fences.  He came to lunch yesterday but I am not sure if he even ate anything and he only sipped on a very small amount of coffee.  Thank you for praying for Charles.

I am very thankful to each person to each person who helped with yesterday afternoon’s fellowship at Presley’s Outing.  Our deacons and their wives get an A+ for doing so well. Unfortunately, the attendance was significantly down from previous years.  However, we saw four baptisms and the folks seemed to enjoy themselves.  I am also very thankful to Lynn Presley for being such a kind and gracious host.

Yesterday marked by paternal grandmother’s one hundred and twenty-eighth birthday.  Now, the date of 9/27 will hold another reason of significance in my life.  I am humbled by the spoken words, calls, emails, iMessages, et cetera shared with me yesterday.  Thank you!

So, what are my plans for today.  Normal day with one exception.  I have to find my reading glasses!  LOL!  (I am using Lisa’s to write this entry and they are not strong enough but way better than nothing).

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

Soccer this morning beginning at 8:45AM.  Support the concession stand which supports our students going to camp next July.

Continue to pray for Donnie Felps as he recuperates at home.  Pray for Marisa too!

Charles Clark remains in the hospital but prayerfully will be discharged today.  Keep praying!

My friend, Dr. Brian Ellis, had successful surgery at UAB yesterday.  They were able to save his kidney.  Not sure what the next step is but thanks be to God for His blessings thus far.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning meaning Sunday School at 9:00AM followed by our 10:00AM worship service.  Come join us!

Church fellowship at Presley’s tomorrow afternoon beginning at 4:00PM.  Asking folks from the Friendship family to bring a side and dessert.  Entry fee into Presley’s is three dollars per person.  Kevin Sprinkle will be at the gate receiving the money.  Exact change is not required but appreciated.  Please do NOT tip Kevin!

Lisa arrived home safe and sound early this morning.  Thank for Lord for traveling mercies.

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

I was totally unaware of the fact that Donnie Felps had been admitted to the hospital.  Marisa sent me several electronic updates but, for whatever reason, they did not arrive to me until last night.  So, Donnie was discharged before I knew he was admitted.  I appreciate Marisa keeping me updated.  Pray for Donnie & Marisa.

Gayla Dyess’ two brothers continue to need our prayer support.  One of them will be going to India soon for a job and also to receive medical treatment.  Pray.

Our grandson’s (Cooper) procedure yesterday went very well.  They did not have to do what they thought and were able to do something less.  He still had to be sedated but he did well.  Thank you for praying.

Lisa’s dad, Charles, most likely will be discharged from the hospital at some point today.  I was his “sitter” for several hours yesterday afternoon/early evening.  He was very sleepy and it took an effort for me to awaken him in order for him to sign the new last testament and will I drafted for him.  Thank you for praying for Charles & Ann.

Soccer tonight beginning at 5:15PM and tomorrow beginning at 8:45AM.  Please support the concession stand as all proceeds will go to help our students attend camp next July.  Pray for Bro. Abel and this ministry.

Church fellowship at Presley’s Outing this Sunday, 9/27, beginning at 4:00PM.  Baptism at 4:30PM and supper immediately following.  Kevin Sprinkle will be at the gate collecting the three dollars per person entry fee.  Friendship family, please bring the sides and desserts.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning.

Lisa is scheduled to arrive home late tonight.  I was not even aware she was gone until Miriam told me this past Wednesday morning before our service.  Just saying!  Yes, I miss my wife and look forward to her being at home and in the kitchen!

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