Pastor's Blog

I failed to mention the basketball sign up in my earlier entry today.  Well, Rachel Hatcher has since blasted me!  I cannot repeat what she said but suffice it to say that I am now typing a second entry just to cover the basketball sign up.

Sign up has gone pretty well outside of the Friendship family but not so well inside the Friendship family.  One female who wrote me earlier today (I will leave her nameless) says it is because the pastor has not promoted the basketball ministry very well up to this point!  (She did not use those exact words but you get the point)

So, if you have children, 1st graders – 6th graders, and you want them to participate in these leagues then you need to sign them up this week.  The sooner, the better.  League play will begin in December and end either late January or early February.  There will be eight games with most being played on Saturdays.  Teams practice for one hour, one day per week.  I think the cost is seventy five dollars per player.

Your child does not have to be a good basketball player in order to play in these leagues.  Brice Brinkman plays!

marcushatcher1986@yahoo.com;  ea66chevyii@hotmail.com

#RHrh (Rachel Hatcher red hot)

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Good morning from the Gulfport, MS airport.  Pastor Wes Bates, Pastor Abel Garcia, Lisa and I are heading to El Salvador for the annual pastors’ conference.  We will be joined in Atlanta by Pastor Keith Martin, Evangelist Michael Mason and his wife, Dawn.  Today and Thursday are travel days and the conference will take place tomorrow and Wednesday.  Pray for this conference, please.

We were blessed with good services yesterday.  It is not every Sunday that you have a ninety three year old person join your church family but that was the case for the Friendship family yesterday.  Good stuff.

Our AWANA ministry did a wonderful job of sharing in our service last night.  Those children know those verses and it shows.  I appreciate Dylan & Elizabeth Westbrook and all of our workers as they are doing a great job on Sunday evenings.  Honestly, if Dylan had not backed away from the challenge then our deacons could have taken them last night.  Just saying!

Our Trail of Truth & Treats was awesome!  Many thanks to TJ & Lindsey, Bro. Abel and each person who helped in any way.  We had around six hundred and fifty folks pass through the trail.  The weather was perfect!  The Gospel was presented numerous times.  Thank God for a very good day!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Late, short & sweet this morning!

Trail of Truth & Treats today from 3:00 – 6:00PM.  All workers need to be in the auditorium by 2:15PM.  Emphasis is on ALL!

Time change tonight – fall back one hour.  If you go to bed at 10:00PM then set your timepieces back to 9:00PM.  Gain an hour or so they say!

Deacons meet with the pastor tomorrow at 4:00PM.

Meeting tomorrow at 4:30PM in Preschool Building for all under sixty five years of age willing to help with the community Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, 11/21, from 10:00AM until noon.  Contact Katelyn or Sherry for more information.

Our veterans need to sign up tomorrow if they are going to attend the community service next Sunday, 11/10, at 3:00PM.

John Milton is home.  Sonny is finished with his radiation treatments.  The baby is doing well.  Myrtle is also doing well.  Keep praying!

This weather is delightful!  Enjoy it!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Sonny Bates will receive the final of his twenty eight radiation treatments today – hooray!  Keep praying for Sonny.

John Milton is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital today.

Jonny & Stephanie’s baby is doing well.  So is Stephanie.

Keep praying for Myrtle.

Trail of Truth & Treats tomorrow afternoon from 3:00 – 6:00PM.  All workers need to be in the auditorium at 2:15PM.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Katelyn Johnson & Sherry Howell are asking for all persons interested in helping with the senior adults Thanksgiving meal on 11/21 to meet with them this Sunday, 11/3, at 4:30PM in the Preschool Building.  This is for folks under sixty five years of age.

We need the veterans from the Friendship family to let us know if they are going to attend the community service on Sunday, 11/10, at 3:00PM?  You can call Lisa’s office (865-4517) today and they will pass this information along to Pastor Terry Ragsdale.  Or, you can sign up in our services this Sunday, 11/3.

Thirty seven degrees this morning – nice!  We are about to have a couple of perfect weather days.  Thank you Jesus!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Stephanie Gaston gave birth last night just before 7:30PM.  The baby checked into this world weighing 2 pounds and 15 ounces.  I do not have any other details but you can find those on Jonny’s social media sites.  Pray for Stephanie and the baby.

Bobby and the boys are the 2019 World Series champions!  How about that!  Their backs have been against the proverbial wall many times this season but they have come back each and every time.  Congratulations to Bobby and the team!

John Milton Ladnier “could” be discharged today.  If not today then it will most likely be tomorrow.  He is doing well.  Keep praying for a complete recovery.

Sonny Bates is now down to two remaining radiation treatments – today and tomorrow.  Keep praying.

Sammy told us yesterday that Myrtle is doing better and getting ready for her chemo treatments which will begin on 11/11.  Continue to pray for Myrtle.

Max Peacock had a consultation with the doctor on Tuesday.  The proverbial ball is in Max’s court and he is just holding pat for the time being.  Pray for Max to have wisdom and peace.

Pastor Wes Bates, Pastor Keith Martin, Evangelist Michael Mason and his wife, Dawn, and Bro. Abel will join Lisa and me in traveling to El Salvador next week for the annual pastors’ conference.  The conference will take place Tuesday and Wednesday.  We will travel on Monday and Thursday.  Pray for this conference.

The rains should clear out of here by this afternoon and then the forecasters are calling for a low of thirty six degrees tonight – hallelujah!  Saturday’s forecast is basically picture perfect which will be a blessing to our Trail of Truth & Treats.

Speaking of that, we need all folks working the Trail of Truth & Treats to be in the auditorium at 2:15PM Saturday for an important meeting before manning the trail.

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

Jonny Gaston’s wife, Stephanie, will be giving birth via section sometime early tonight.  Complications with the pregnancy are making this birth a necessity.  Jonny has it all posted on social media if you want to get more details.  I am simply asking you to pray fervently.  Thank you.  Blessings!

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be found faithful in attending these services.

Time change this Sunday, 11/3, which means we “fall back” one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.  If you go to bed at 10:00PM then simply move your time pieces “back” to 9:00PM.  Real simple.  So simple that even ________ can do it!  (You supply the name)

The forecast calls for an absolutely beautiful day weather wise this Saturday for our Trail of Truth & Treats.  Rain chance is at zero, high temperature is forecast to be sixty three degrees and the humidity is forecast to be fifty five percent – is that awesome or what!  We are praying for the opportunity to minister to over one thousand folks during this ministry event.

Visited John Milton Ladnier yesterday morning.  He is in good spirits.  He has had an issue or two that the doctors are trying to figure out.  He was set to have a MRA last night but that did not happen.  Pray for clarity as the doctors continue their evaluation.

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden too.

Sonny Bates is now down to his final three radiation treatments.  Pray that all goes well and the end result will be that these treatments have had the desired effect.

There is an outpatient surgery taking place this morning but I am not sure if it is bloggable so please just pray as God knows.

Bobby and the boys are one game away from winning it all!  It is crazy to me that the visiting team has won each of the first six games in this series.  This comes from MLB.com – “It’s the first World Series in which the road team has won each of the first six games, and it’s also the first time in 1,420 best-of-seven postseason series across MLB, NBA and NHL in which the road team has won each of the first six contests.”   Justin Verlander has never won a World Series game which is also a pretty amazing fact.

Game seven begins tonight shortly after 7:00PM our time.  Maybe we will cut our service short so everyone can get home to watch it from the first pitch?  Not happening!  I do like Bobby but not that much!

I am loving this weather as I love the rain and then it will be followed by some true Fall weather.  Thank you Jesus!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

This entry is late.  I apologize.  They had career day at Castlen Elementary yesterday and the Principal, Laura Dickens, has secretly always wanted to be a blog writer.  So, she asked if she could do today’s entry for me and I agreed.  Big mistake on my part!  Laura got “too busy” to write one this morning!  Oh well, you live and you learn!

John Milton Ladnier remains in SICU but is scheduled to be moved to a regular room later today.  I have planned my visit to be later so I can see him in a regular room.  John is doing well.  Keep praying.

Myrtle continues to be Myrtle!  There is only one Myrtle.  Wait, there is Dana!  LOL!  Myrtle is recovering from surgery and anticipating the beginning of her chemo treatments.  Pray for Myrtle!

Four more radiation treatments for Sonny Bates.  Pray for these last four to go well and for Sonny to not feel any side effects.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

I sent Bobby a very simple answer to the situation the Nationals face – win the next two games!  Let’s go Nationals!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

John Milton remains in CCU but is doing good as far as I know.  I will be visiting him today.  Keep praying.

Sonny Bates begins his final week of radiation treatments today.  Pray for Sonny.

Myrtle continues to recover at home so remember to pray for her.

Max Peacock has a consultation with the doctor tomorrow to discuss his options relating to his heart issues.  Pray for wisdom.

Trail of Truth & Treats this Saturday, 11/2, from 3:00 – 6:00PM.  All hands on deck!

Our AWANA ministry will present a program this Sunday, 11/3, during our 6:00PM service time.

Yes, I am in a bit of shock after seeing the Astros take all three games in Nationals Park over the weekend.  Now, Bobby and the boys have a major task in front of them but that has been true all season and they have responded well.  Do I still believe the Nationals can win the World Series in 2019?  I do!  Let’s go Nationals!  (Mad Max is going to go all “Willis Reed” in game seven!)

How dare the AP voters move LSU ahead of Bama!  LOL!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Good morning from the hospital waiting room.  John Milton’s surgery did not take place yesterday afternoon as planned.  He was taken from his hospital room this morning at 6:30AM and surgery should begin around 7:30AM.   John is completely trusting in the Lord.  Pray that all goes well.

Myrtle Bowden’s surgery went well yesterday morning.  She is at home and is dealing with some pain but all in all she is doing well.  Keep praying for Myrtle.

Tina Wilkinson spent some time in the hospital this week but is now at home.  She is obviously doing better.  Pray for Tina.

They tell me the service with the men from the Mission of Hope went very well last night.  Thank you to each person who helped in any way with that ministry.

Had the opportunity to spend some time with dad yesterday afternoon.  His surgery went as planned but he is having some other issues related to his mental capacity.  We are in hopes it is related to the medicines used in surgery and he will improve in short order.

The Astros got the Nationals last night.  I think tonight will be a different story.  Let’s go Nationals.

The Auburn vs LSU game is the highlight for this weekend when it comes to college football.  I definitely think Auburn can play with LSU.  Will they win?  I think they can.  Time will tell.

Lisa and I got home around midnight last night and have plans to head to Tuscaloosa later today.  Lord willing, I will be in our three services tomorrow.

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