Pastor's Blog

The church office will be open today.  I have given Bro. Jerry & Bro. Abel the day off so I will be the only show in town.  As far as I know, the internet is down which means our phones are not working.

The Lord blessed and we had a good service last night.  In spite of the less than ideal weather conditions, we had a really good attendance.  I am very grateful to those who attended.

Lisa’s cousin, Jim, is now listed as stable.  He has a ways to go physically but at least is considered doing better.  Keep praying.

The forecasters are calling for us to have a good weekend weather wise.  We are expected to go below freezing tomorrow night but then the temperatures go up.  Our “Winter” may be over although the older folks will tell me about that last cold snap right before Easter.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  I am in hopes that our attendance will show a marked increase especially in the 10:30AM service as we were down in that service last Sunday.

Joey & Bibbi Bosarge have a farm – Redemption Family Farm.  You can buy their products from their website which is gulfcoastheritagefoods.grazecart.com.

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

There will be no morning service today, 2/17.  Is it “too” cold for us to have a service?  No.  However, I have taken into consideration that our most of our morning crowd consists of senior adults and I do not want them to have to get out as the temperature will be around forty degrees with the wind chill probably closer to thirty two degrees.  This group is our most faithful group when it comes to attendance and I appreciate them.  Pass the word, please.

Regular schedule tonight!

On Saturday, February 17, 1979, an eighteen year old young man held a bus meeting with four workers in hopes of basically resurrecting a bus ministry that was on life support.  That was forty two years ago today.  That eighteen year old young man never imagined in his wildest dreams that forty two years later he would still be on staff at Friendship and would have spent over thirty of those years as the pastor.  Not to mention finding his wife from within the Friendship family and then being blessed with five daughters and eight grandchildren.  To say the Friendship family has been good to me would be like the understatement of all time.  God has used the Friendship family in so many ways to be great to me and my family.  I have basically been on a honeymoon for forty two years!  To God be the glory! I stand amazed!

Little known side note – I was unaware of it until years later but I was hired on a six months trial basis!  True story!  I am very grateful to Bro. Johnny Tucker for recommending me to Bro. Robbie and then thankful to Bro. Robbie for his willingness to take a chance on me.  Bro. Robbie did an awesome job of mentoring me.  Miss Peggy did an awesome job of keeping me laughing!  I owe a great debt to Bro. Johnny & Miss Judy and Bro. Robbie and Miss Peggy.

So today I am counting my blessings!  Wow!

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

There are two announcements relating to the Friendship family.  First, the church office hours for today have been adjusted.  The office will open at 11:00AM and close at 4:00PM.  Please note the delayed opening.

Second, and more important, we will not have our morning service in the morning, 1/17.  The temperatures will be above freezing but the forecast calls for some strong winds which will make it feel much colder.  Since almost all of our Wednesday morning attendees are senior adults, I want to them to stay at home and to stay warm.  Please pass the word!

We will have our regular evening schedule tomorrow night.

I do not have any updates on those persons for whom we have been praying.  I would simply ask you to keep praying!

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

Bobby’s & Ann’s nephew was placed on a ventilator early yesterday morning.  His oxygen level had dropped to sixty percent.  Pray for Jim, his family and the medical folks involved in his care.

I am very thankful to Gary & Rachel Walton for the nice surprise of the heart shaped cakes in yesterday morning’s services.  How nice was that!  They were thinking of others which is exactly what I taught last Wednesday.  Good stuff!

Katelyn Johnson & Elizabeth Westbrook did a nice job on the Valentine’s backdrop in the foyer of the auditorium.  That is where I took all of my selfies!

Congratulations to Bro. Abel & Miss Candy on their engagement!  I am happy for them.

Dylan did a very nice job of sharing the message in our evening service.  He & Elizabeth are doing a good job with our bus & children’s ministries.  Pray for them and these ministries.

Yesterday was a proverbial roller coaster for me emotionally.  Our worship service attendance was up considerably in our early service but then someone seemingly dropped a bomb in the second service – oh my!  Folks, that works on me in ways that I cannot explain.

I am now seeing a forecast low for Grand Bay tonight of nineteen to twenty two degrees.  I may need to put a jacket on.  Problem is that I do not own a jacket.

I am using a vacation day today.  Personal reasons but all is well.  Bro. Jerry & Bro. Abel are in the office from 8:00AM until noon and then from 1:00PM until 4:00PM.

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

Word came to me via email  from Bill Kendrick that Debbie’s surgery date has been set as April 6.  They were in hopes of an earlier date but that is it for the time being.  If there is a cancellation then Debbie could be moved up on the schedule.  Keep praying for Debbie and Bill.

Keep praying for Miss Cora Martin.

Tony, praying for you and the requests you sent to me.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Lisa is scheduled to arrive home late tonight.  O happy day!

The forecast calls for us to get a break from the rain today and tomorrow before it returns on Monday.  The forecasted low for Grand Bay on Monday night is twenty one degrees.  Folks, for us that will be much colder than normal.  I like it!

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

As far as I know, Miss Cora Martin remains hospitalized.  Keep praying for her.

Robert Baria was discharged from the hospital and is doing much better.  Praise the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  The Finance Committee will meet at 4:15PM.

Thank you for praying as I drove to Hartselle and back yesterday.  Left home at 5:45AM and returned at 9:00PM.  There were sixteen of us who gathered to celebrate Mama’s birthday.  Her only two remaining sisters and all four of her children were present.  A good time was had by all.

Basically drove in the rain all the way up and back.  Makes it a little tougher.  Saw a bad accident on the way home and I found myself being extra thankful for traveling mercies.

It appears the rain will be with us today and tomorrow.  Be careful if you are out an about.

Pam Baker and her mom will travel to Guatemala tomorrow.  Pam will be working with the teachers at Colegio JET.  Pray for them to have a safe and productive trip.

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

Happy eighty second birthday to my Mama.  I pray that she will have a great day.  Mama and dad shared the same birthday three years apart so this will be the first birthday they have not shared together since like 1955 or 1956.  Dad would have been eighty five today.

My plan is to head North this morning, have lunch with Mama, and then head South this afternoon.  You may ask, “are you crazy?”  Yes.  Hey, it is only seven hundred or so miles and will only take like eleven hours total driving time.  I am young!  I would appreciate your prayers for traveling mercies as it supposed to rain all the way up and back.

Robert Baria remains in the hospital.  Keep praying for Robert!

Miss Cora Martin remains in the hospital.  Pray for Miss Cora!

Debbie Kendrick is still waiting on a surgery date.  Pray it will be soon.

Miss Kittie was in our morning service yesterday.  That was a blessing!

It is my understanding that the last of the 2020 contribution records from the church will be mailed out today.  If you need more information about your record, contact Bro. Jerry.

Regular schedule this Sunday, 2/14.  Finance Committee will meet at 4:15PM.

Aninha Barrett shared in our service last night that the only thing she wants from Keith for Valentine’s Day is a walk!  Talk about a cheap date!  I think other wives should be more like Aninha in this regard!  Just saying!

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

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Robert Baria was taken to the hospital Monday night and was admitted.  Pray that the medical folks can locate the source of his problems.  You know Robert is sick when he gives up the last two days of deer hunting season.

As far as I know, Miss Cora Martin remains in the hospital.  Keep praying.

Bobby Broome & Ann Clark have a nephew, Jim, who is in critical condition in the hospital.  He had the virus and now has double pneumonia.  I think Jim is in his early fifties.  Pray for Jim, the doctors treating him and Jim’s family.

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

Debbie Kendrick got good news yesterday regarding her yearly check up on her malignancy.  The result – normal report!  (Now if she could just get a “normal” husband!).  She asks us to pray for a expedited surgery on her hip as she has concerns that they could curtail elective surgeries again soon.  Right now they are booking one month out.  Join me in praying for Debbie’s surgery to be scheduled quickly!

Keep praying for Miss Cora, Miss Kittie and Larry Crawley.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

My Monday was spent doing tax stuff for GRACE Ministries.  My Tuesday morning should be basically the same.

I “think” the 2020 contribution records to the church should be sent out this week.

I am missing my wife.  I was gone for ten days and then we literally had like five waking hours together before she left for Guatemala.  She is scheduled to arrive back late Saturday night – in Montgomery!  Who bought that ticket?

Speaking of Guatemala, we are planning on hosting a GRACE Ministries trip in June and another one in July.  We will most likely limit the number of participants.  So, be ready to sign up soon!  First come, first served.

Sommer, are you stalking us?  (Asking for a friend!)

You ask a Yankee to order one small part.  Simple, right?  Nope!  Orders the wrong part!  Killing me!  Just killing me!

You ask a fellow pastor for one email address of one of his church members.  Simple, right?  Nope!  Does not have it!  Killing me!  Just killing me!

Looks like rain will be our companion for the majority of the next ten days.  How is one expected to plant a garden with all of this rain?

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

Happy eighth birthday to our granddaughter, Sydney.  Sydney lives in Guatemala so Lisa is there to help her celebrate today.  I hope Sydney has a really great day.

Keep praying for Debbie Kendrick as the surgeon decides the best course of action regarding her hip.

Larry Crawley was in a morning service and the evening service yesterday.  Still praising God for the good report.

Miss Kittie was not able to attend our services in person yesterday.  Totally understandable.  Keep praying for Miss Kittie.

Miss Cora Martin remains in the hospital.  Pray for Miss Cora.

Good day in our services yesterday.  Keith & Aninha Barrett did an excellent job of sharing in the evening service.  If you missed that service, you missed a blessing.

Regular schedule this Wednesday – morning and evening.

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