Pastor's Blog

Roseanne Baria’s sister-in-law, Louise Pelletier, passed from this life on July 6.  There will be a visitation with the family today, 7/9, from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  The visitation and service will take place at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  Pray for the Pelletier family.

Miss Vinnie’s son is scheduled to return home from UAB today.  Keep praying!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all three services.  I am praying for the Friendship family to be faithful to attend.

This Sunday evening, 7/11, will see us host our fourth night of VBS.  Times are from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.  Pass the word.

Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey arrived safely to GRACE Mountain yesterday afternoon.  Smooth flights and they were through the Guatemala airport in less than twenty five minutes.  Thank you to each person who prayed and to those who sent notes of support and encouragement.

Life on the hill went back to somewhat normal yesterday with Deidra and the girls gone.  Lisa spent the night at Presley’s while Gina & I held the fort down.  A bit strange feeling right now.

I am not a huge fan of eating oysters.  (But I am a huge fan of Jason & Dana Taylor!)  Lisa loves oysters raw or cooked.  Once she left yesterday I found an oyster container in the refrigerator.  Apparently Lisa brought them home from her office.  I decided to do a little Spring cleaning.  I will just play dumb when she asks what happened?

The other day I went to go outside through the door leading to our garage.  Could not do it!  Why?  There was this huge watermelon blocking the exit.  It was so large that I could not move it.  Had to go out another door, get a chainsaw and cut it up!  I then began eating it.  It was delicious!  Where did it come from?  John Milton Ladnier.  The man can grow a garden!

I was crushed yesterday to learn that Pastor Jordan Lollar is no longer a reader of the blog.  Our number of readers has now slipped to eleven.  Folks, if we drop to single digits then I am done!  Just saying!

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

Short and sweet entry today.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

I will spend the better part of today packing for Deidra and the girls to return home.  Deidra has accumulated a ton of ministry supplies for use in Guatemala.  No way it all goes this time but it is all needed.  Can you say “Christmas gifts?”

Speaking of Guatemala, our December trip is at capacity plus.  Somehow I am not communicating that message very well as I am getting asked daily if we have any openings on the December.  The answer is no.  I am sorry but I tried to tell folks in advance this was going to be the case.

It looks as though we will get more rain this morning.  Folks, God knows what He is doing with the weather.  Trust Him!

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

The church office will open this morning at 8:00AM.  Normal office hours today:  8:00AM until 12:00PM and 1:00PM until 4:00PM.

I hope everyone enjoyed a nice holiday weekend.  For me it was family time, grass cutting and some work on the computer.  Having yesterday off kept me confused as to what day it was but it is all good.

As I posted a couple of days ago, the December 2021 GRACE Ministries trip is at capacity plus.  It has been announced as a first come, first served trip for the past couple of weeks.  We have folks from five different States who have purchased tickets.  The next opportunity to be on a trip led by me will our June 2022 trip.  I would suggest not waiting!  Contact me via email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.

Perry McIntyre is the brother in Christ whose life was cut short way too young last week.  The celebration of life for Perry takes place this afternoon in South Carolina.  Pray for his wife, Rhonda, and the rest of the family.

I am driving to Hattiesburg, MS this morning to meet with a fellow pastor.  The roads are wet so pray for safe travels for me.

I have been thinking – when a married couple buys a mini van then it gives the thought they are preparing to either begin their family or expand their family.  Would you agree?  A couple in the Friendship family just recently purchased a mini van.  Just saying!

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

Today marks the fifty third birthday of Lisa’s only brother, Michael Clark.  Michael was born on 7/5/68 and passed from this life on 9/2/86.  The flowers in the auditorium yesterday were placed there by Charles & Ann in loving memory of Michael.  Death stings!  Because Jesus lives we can face today, tomorrow and beyond!

Our fourth of July worship celebration was certainly blessed by the Lord!  Al Stokes and the praise team from the Grand Bay Church of God graciously came and joined the Friendship family’s praise team which made the musical worship outstanding.  I cannot adequately express my appreciation to these folks for their ministry to us.  Great job!

Pastor Spencer Bell did a very nice job of sharing the spoken Word to us.  I have received positive comments from so many folks about the message.

What can I say about the attendance?  A really nice crowd was present.  Awesome!  Thank you Friendship family for being faithful!

Of course, God deserves and receives all of the glory for all that was done yesterday.  Thank you Jesus!

The church office is closed today.  It will open tomorrow morning at 8:00AM.

Our December GRACE Ministries mission trip to Guatemala has reached capacity.  I strongly encourage folks to begin looking at our June 2022 trip.  I fully believe it will reach capacity in short order.

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

The GRACE Ministries mission trip scheduled for December 1 – 8, 2021 has reached capacity.  It has always been on a first come, first served basis.  There will be no waiting list as the folks signed up already have their tickets.  Plus, the airfares will only increase from this point forward and it would put those on a waiting list at a financial disadvantage.

I would strongly suggest that folks wanting to join us on a trip begin considering our June 2022 trip.  I anticipate it reaching capacity fairly quickly too.  What about the January/February 2022 trips?  They have already reached capacity.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to those contemplating the December trip.  Thank you for understanding.

Perry McIntyre is the brother I met in Guatemala on June 15.  As he was working this past Wednesday, July 1, his life was needlessly taken by a gunman.  Perry was only forty nine years old.  He loved the Lord and his family.  He especially loved his only grandson, Jackson, who is around five months old.  Pray for Perry’s family as they will have a visitation on Monday night, 7/5, and a celebration of life service on Tuesday, 7/6.

Only ONE worship service on our campus tomorrow, July 4.  It will begin at 8:00AM and will conclude corporately before 9:30AM.  The worship music is going to be great.  Spencer Bell will bring the message.  Do not miss this service!  Let’s fill the house!

Childcare will be provided for children five years of age and under.  A love offering will be received for Bro. Spencer.

Pray.  Attend.  Bring others with you.

Our deacons will meet in the morning at 7:00AM.

The church office will be closed on Monday, July 5.  I will be in town, Lord willing, and am available in the event of an emergency.

If you or someone you know wants to go to Guatemala with our GRACE team the dates of December 1 – 8 then now is the time to commit.  Airfares remain good at the time of this writing but that is subject to change at any moment without notice.  Email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  Do not delay!

By the way, my eighty two year old mama is applying for her passport and has plans to join us on that trip.  How about that!  I am excited for her!

Pray for Spencer Bell as he travels today.

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

JoNell, Peggy and the kids arrived safely in Arizona.  The visitation took place last night and the service will take place today.  Pray for JoNell, Peggy and the family during this time.

I was saddened to read yesterday of Coach Mark Richt’s being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.  Coach Richt is sixty one years old and retired a year or so ago after being head coach at Georgia and Miami.  I was blessed by his tweet announcing his diagnosis as he wrote – “Truthfully, I look at it as a momentary light affliction compared to the future glory in heaven. Thank you Jesus for promising us a future blessing of a glorified body that has no sin and no disease.”  Pray for Coach Richt and his family.

Deidra and I received a message late last night about a tragedy in South Carolina.  The name has not been officially released but a gentleman who spent June 10 – 17 on GRACE mountain was shot to death yesterday.  I met this man and his wife on June 15.  What a really nice guy and strong follower of Jesus.  I was only around him for parts of three days but was impressed.  My sleep was troubled last night.  Pray for this family.  I will share more details as they become available and are made public.

Deidra arrived in Mobile late yesterday afternoon.  She was delayed in Houston for about two or three hours but finally arrived in Mobile.  We are glad to have her here.  The best news about this?  Soy did not come with her!

After getting Deidra here, I went to our church auditorium for the ensemble practice.  I knew they would appreciate me working with them!  (Something like that!)  Folks, Sunday morning’s music is going to be a blessing!  Do not miss it!

Our Sunday service will begin at 8:00AM.  One service!  Pastor Spencer Bell will be the messenger.  We will receive a love offering for Bro. Spencer.  Childcare will be provided for children five years of age and under.  Do not miss this service!

One of the professional sports stars is complaining about having to “work” from December to June.  Poor guy!  He is only making millions to play a game.  Give me a break!

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

We were blessed with a nice day in our services yesterday.  I am very grateful to the folks who make attending the services on Wednesday a priority.  God is good!

The Friendship family has been in a nice stretch where no one has been in the hospital.  Praise the Lord!  We do have folks in need of prayer but no one is presently hospitalized.

I briefly spoke to Peggy Knighten yesterday afternoon and they were about one hundred and sixty miles from Albuquerque, NM around 5:00PM our time.  I think JoNell told me that would put them around four hours from their final destination.  Keep praying!

Our deacons will meet this Sunday, 7/4, at 7:00AM.

One service this Sunday, July 4, and it will begin at 8:00AM featuring the music ministry of the Friendship family and the Grand Bay Church of God.  Spencer Bell will bring the message.  Childcare will be provided for children ages five and under. Pass the word!

Deidra is scheduled to fly from Guatemala City this morning at 6:25AM, connect in Houston, and then arrive in Mobile at 4:20PM.  Pray for safe travels for her, please.

Pastor Doug Chappelle and his team are scheduled to leave Guatemala City around 1:00PM today.  They have had a good week of ministry.  Pray for traveling mercies.

A team from Kennedy Baptist is scheduled to arrive on GRACE Mountain today for a week of ministry.  Pray for all to go well.

Congratulations to the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team as they are the 2021 College World Series champions!  SEC, SEC, SEC!  I fully expect Johnathan Jordan and Rick Bradley to be wearing their national champions t-shirts this Sunday morning!  As Dub Ladnier used to say, “if I tell you that a chicken dips, check under her wing for a can of snuff!”  Just saying!

Losing Josh Primo to the NBA draft is going to hurt the Alabama basketball team next season.  The youngster is good!

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

(P.S. – I posted this entry early so Elizabeth Westbrook will stop her whining!)

Happy fourteenth wedding anniversary to Brad & Daphne.  I hope their day is great!

JoNell, Peggy and the children continue their drive to Arizona today.  Keep praying!

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

Only one service this Sunday, July 4, and that will begin at 8:00AM.  Our musical worship will be led by a combined group from the Friendship family and the Grand Bay Church of God.  Pastor Spencer Bell will deliver the message from God.  It is going to be a “God and Country” service as we thank God for His blessings on our nation.

As I predicted, the airfares to Guatemala for the December trip have risen.  First, it was twenty dollars and now it is up to sixty dollars.  If you want to join us on this trip then now is definitely the time to commit!  Email me if you are ready to join the seventeen or so others who have already gotten their tickets.

Also, as I predicted, it is not over until it is over.  The CWS is now down to one game which will be played tonight.  State beat the stuffing out of Vandy last night.  Both teams have rested pitchers for tonight’s game so I can see a very low scoring game.  I am pulling for MSU!

You ever have a nightmare and then it comes true in real life?  Me too – happened yesterday!  I am still shaking!  Just saying!  LOL!

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

Sorry for no entry yesterday.  Why was there no entry?  Yes.

We will have one worship service this Sunday, July 4.  This service will begin at 8:00AM and will feature the music ministry of the Friendship family combined with the music ministry of the Grand Bay Church of God.  Our guest messenger will be Spencer Bell from Hartselle, Alabama.  It is going to be a “God and Country” service and I believe is going to be an amazing worship experience.  Do not miss it!  Bring folks with you!

We were blessed with a good day in our services this past Sunday.  Good attendance in our morning services.  Good VBS in the evening.  Johnathan Jordan and Elizabeth Westbrook did a nice job of sharing in the evening service.  God blessed our day and we give Him the glory.

Peggy Knighten and JoNell Barnes leave today heading to Arizona in order to attend the memorial service on Friday for JoNell’s oldest son.  Pray for them as they travel to AZ and back.  Ava & Braxton will be joining them on this trip.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

We had a nice response to folks wanting to join us on the December 1 – 8, 2021 GRACE Ministries trip to Guatemala.  As I figured, the airfare increased twenty dollars overnight.  Folks, it will just go higher from here.  So, if you are ready to commit then send me an email today.  I will then make work of purchasing your ticket.  We are going to limit the number of participants on this trip to twenty four and we already have fifteen folks with tickets purchased.  First come, first served.

“I thought you said MSU was going to win the college World Series?”  I did.  It is not over until it is over.  Do you realize the four of the past five WS winners have lost the first game of the final series?  Just saying!

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