Pastor's Blog

Happy Thanksgiving!  I have so much for which to be thankful and one of things close to the top is my church family!  I love the Friendship family and am very thankful to serve as their pastor.  (I am not a big fan of the deacons but. . .  LOL!)

It was a planned surprise and it worked!  I felt the Lord tell me a month or so ago to travel to Guatemala in order to be with Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey for Thanksgiving.  So, I arrived in Guatemala yesterday afternoon and to say they were surprised would be a huge understatement!  Lisa sent me with a turkey, Ann’s dressing and all of the other fixings.  The bonus is that Jennifer Davis cooked chicken & dumplings that I brought along as well.  Talk about a good meal!  We are going to enjoy it!  The food will be great, the fellowship even greater!

I pray that you will have a great Thanksgiving Day with Jesus.

Friendship family, our campus is closed today meaning there will be no services, classes, Bible studies, et cetera this morning or tonight.  Obviously, the church office is closed today and will not open again until Monday, 12/1.  The church staff is available in the event of an emergency.

The day before Thanksgiving Day is usually a very busy travel.  Safe travels to those traveling today.

Clinton Stringfellow was sleeping pretty soundly when I visited him in the hospital yesterday.  I am not a medical person but I do not think he will be discharged today.  I hope I am wrong as Clinton would like to go home.  Keep praying.

My plan was to get information from Clinton about Miss Bonnie Smiley.  That did not happen.  So, maybe today I can get an update on Miss Bonnie’s whereabouts, how she is doing, et cetera.  If anyone reading this entry has an update on Miss Bonnie, please send me an email with that information.  Pray for Miss Bonnie.

Rachel Walton remains at home recovering from her surgery.  She is not supposed to be doing any thing but those of us who know Rachel know how that is going.  Rachel is one of the hardest working women I have ever known.  She does not slow down!  Keep praying for Rachel.

I have a full day in front of me today but I hope to pump the proverbial brakes tomorrow and spend some time enjoying family while eating some of my mother-in-law’s dressing which is the best ever!  No doubt!  Our oldest daughter, Deidra, will be in Guatemala tomorrow but she is better off than our second daughter, Daphne, as she will be in Lawrence County – oh my!  Dr. Rex understands what I am saying!  LOL!

We get back on a regular schedule this Sunday morning, 11/30.  No services on Sunday evening.

Not sure if I will post tomorrow so let me go ahead and wish all thirteen of our readers a very Happy Thanksgiving!  I pray that your today and tomorrow will be great with Jesus!

Happy sixteenth birthday to our oldest grandchild, Titus.  Hard to believe, but true.  The crazy thing is that he simply prints out his drivers license today.  Anyway, I hope he has a great day.  We love Titus!  Happy birthday, Titus!

Clinton Stringfellow is an amazing man.  I visited with him late yesterday and he was basically ready to get up and get out of the hospital.  If he is correct (Clinton speaking and not the surgeon), he will be discharged tomorrow so that will be a hospital visit I will not get to make.  Pray for Clinton.

I do not have an update on Miss Bonnie Smiley.  I do ask that you continue to pray for her.

Friendship family, this is basically a “quiet” week on our campus.  I spent a couple of hours in the office yesterday and hope to do the same at some point today.  My plan is to visit Clinton again.  The office will be empty for the rest of the week but our staff is available in the event of an emergency.

I pray those traveling today, tomorrow and back after Thanksgiving Day will have safe travels.

No services on our campus tomorrow.  Regular schedule this Sunday morning, 11/30, but then no evening service.  (Simply giving the Friendship family a break from my preaching – something like that!)

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

Clinton Stringfellow as in surgery for seven hours yesterday – wow!  It now appears that he will be hospitalized for more than the anticipated five days.  Pray for Clinton as he has a rough recovery time in front of him.

Miss Bonnie remains in the hospital.  Keep praying.

Rachel Walton continues to recover at home.  Continue to pray for all to go well.

Gary Walton and four of his workers (Dixie Pools) joined at least seven men from the Friendship family to lay the sod yesterday.  Five pallets laid in about twenty-five minutes.  Are you kidding me?  Nope!  Great job, guys!  Thank you to each man who helped and especially to Gary & crew for delaying their work day in order to help.  “Many hands make. . .”

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Join us!

The church campus will basically be closed Monday, 11/24, through Saturday, 11/29.  Regular schedule on Sunday morning, 11/30, but no service on Sunday evening, 11/30.  Our ministerial church staff will be available in the event of an emergency.

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

Clinton Stringfellow is scheduled to have surgery this morning.  If all goes as planned, he will be in the hospital for five days.  Pray for Clinton.

Bonnie Smiley remains in the hospital.  Not sure when she will be discharged.  Plans call for her to go to a rehab facility following her hospital stay.  Pray for Miss Bonnie.

Rachel Walton continues to recover at home.  She is dealing with the pain.  Pray for Rachel (and Gary)!

Huge congratulations to the folks involved in our Co-0p ministry for their outstanding job of serving our senior adults a delicious meal yesterday.  A job very well done!  The students were nicely dressed, very polite and seemed to enjoy serving.  It was a good day for our senior adults.  Thank you to the adults who lead this ministry blessing.

This morning there will be a “sod laying” on our church campus.  Hopefully, the work will begin around 9:00AM.  I appreciate those who will help!

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

Rachel Walton’s surgery was a success per the surgeon.  I spoke to her this morning and reminded her that now it is up to her to follow the surgeon’s instructions to a tee.  Will she?  No comment.  Pray for Rachel and Gary.

Our senior adults meal hosted by the co-0p takes place in the CAB this morning beginning at 11:00AM.  Our senior adults are asked to attend the 10:00AM service in the auditorium and then go over to the CAB once that service ends.  Thank you to the adults & students who are hosting this meal.

Regular schedule on our campus tonight beginning at 6:30PM.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will join us for the Bible study and worship.

On Sunday, 11/30, we will have our regular Sunday morning schedule but there will be no evening activities/service.

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

Rachel Walton will be having surgery this morning.  It was scheduled for this afternoon but got moved to an earlier time.  That is good for Rachel.  Pray that all goes well.

Miss Bonnie Smiley remains in the hospital and will most likely be moved to a rehab facility once discharged from the hospital.  They repaired her hip and it appears they will replace it at some point in the future.  Pray for Miss Bonnie.

We have had a strong number of our senior adults sign up for the meal tomorrow.  Looking forward to it and I am thankful to the co-op folks for doing this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

We will begin laying sod this Thursday morning, 11/20, around 9:30AM.  It should not take long.  I am thankful to the business, MAECO, across the road for allowing us to use a fork lift.  That will be a huge help.  Want to help?  Come join us!

Our Ladies Helping Hands will be meeting this Thursday morning, 11/20, at 10:00AM in the Preschool Building.  All ladies invited to attend.

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

We were blessed with a good Sunday in our services.  Thank you, Jesus!

Tim Knighten will replace Jason Fosmore as a deacon on 1/1/26.  Tim will serve for two years.  Jason is now a paid staff member.

Rachel Walton will have shoulder surgery tomorrow.  It will be outpatient.  Pray that all goes well.

Miss Bonnie Smyly took a fall and broke her hip.  She had a surgical procedure on Saturday and remains in the hospital.  Pray for Miss Bonnie.

The co-op will host a lunch for our senior adults this Wednesday, 11/19, beginning at 11:00AM in the CAB.  Bibbi Bosarge is leading this ministry opportunity.  Our senior adults need to attend the 10:00AM service and then move over to the CAB for the meal.

The plan is to lay sod this Thursday, 11/20, beginning around 9:30AM.  If the job is not finished Thursday then it will be on Saturday, 11/22.  Any men available are welcome to join us on Thursday and I “think” the job will be finished that day.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 11/19.

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

Sorry for the tardiness of this entry.  There is a reason but I will simply say “sorry” and move on.

Richard Bentley’s surgery went well, he came home and was at the Waffle House earlier this morning.  I not really sure he even had surgery – just saying!  Thanks to Bro. Jacob and Deacon Scott Fontenot for covering that surgery for me.

Richard’s mother-in-law was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Keep praying for her as she recovers at home.

Tim Knighten got the all clear from his stress test that was done yesterday.  So, he is good to go for the December trip to Guatemala.  Praise the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday – AM & PM.

Lisa arrived home right around midnight last night.  I am glad to have her home as I am tired of cooking and cleaning.

I left early yesterday morning and drove to Decatur, AL to see Mama.  She had fallen early Tuesday morning and I just wanted to check on her.  In the facility where she lives they had their Thanksgiving dinner yesterday so I got to join her, all three of my siblings and a couple of others around the table.  A blessing.  Thank God for safe travels.

This Sunday night, 11/16, I will make an announcement from our deacons.  Anticipation!

Bro. Jacob and Scott Fontenot did a bunch of work in the youth building yesterday.  Bro. Jacob sent me pictures – nice!

Also, the area where the playground used to be is looking nice.  Will obviously look even nicer once the sod is in place.  Thank you to each person who has helped and will help.

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

Richard Bentley is scheduled to have surgery this morning.  It is outpatient.  Pray that all goes well.

Angie Bentley’s mother had surgery on Monday and may be discharged from the hospital today.  Pray for that situation too.

Our senior saints will be traveling to Laurel, MS today.  The bus leaves at 8:00AM sharp!  Pray for traveling mercies and for a great time of fellowship.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise Him.

Sue Wyse is now our church hostess.  I appreciate Sue serving in this capacity and I am thankful for those who will help her.

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

My parents were married for sixty-four years before dad passed from this life.  Today would mark their sixty-ninth wedding anniversary.  Remembering dad and praying for Mama today.

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