Pastor's Blog

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

The Friendship family hosts the Mission of Hope service tonight beginning at 7:00PM at the mission.  I “think” Dale Bosarge is preaching but I could be wrong.  Being wrong is not difficult for me.  Regardless of who is preaching everyone is invited to attend.

Communicated with Phillip Turner yesterday.  His mother is still in need of our prayer support.  She remains hospitalized.

Amy Switzer messaged me yesterday to say that surgery will not be needed on her broken foot.

Received word from Teresa Ladnier yesterday that Bill & Mary Glass had a grandson, Preston, who passed from this life in an automobile accident somewhere next Waco, Texas.  This is Billy’s son and he is in his twenties.  Pray for the Glass family.

I assume the seniors are doing well on their trip.  They are scheduled to return home tomorrow.  Pray for safety in their travels.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.

Lord willing, I will leave early Monday morning heading to El Salvador for the annual pastors’ conference.  Lisa and I will then travel by bus up to Guatemala for the wedding of Teresita Lara on Friday night, 10/5.  I will officiate that ceremony.  I will then fly home on Saturday, 10/6.

Have you checked out our online giving option?

Have you check out aglimpseofgrace.com?

Senator Jones tweeted last night that he will not vote for the Supreme Court nominee.  Does anyone find that surprising?  I do not.

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

Mr. Jackson Oliver Broadus, 70, passed away September 26, 2018 in Mobile. A visitation will be held Monday, Oct. 1, 2018 at Serenity Funeral Home from 12 – 2 PM with a funeral service to follow at 2 PM at Serenity Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Shady Grove Cemetery. Mr. Broadus was a disabled heavy equipment operator and was a jack of all trades and would use his knowledge to help a friend in need at any time. He loved watching sports and Western movies and TV shows. Most of all, he was a devoted father who loved his family. He is survived by his daughter, Jaime Broadus; son, Jason Broadus; grandson, Alexander Cain; sisters, Ellen Miller, Laura Dodge and Ella Young and a number of extended family members.

Received the following from Michelle Lightfield yesterday regarding their grandson, Brayden, who recently finished ten rounds of chemotherapy and is schedule to have the tumor removed on Wednesday, October 10.

“Brayden will have the right lobe of his liver removed. The tumor is in the upper right lobe, but because of it’s placement they cannot tell if the vein going to the bottom right is compromised or not. So there is a slight chance they only have to remove 1/4 of the liver, but most likely the whole half.

Specific prayer requests for the next week:
• that we get enough blood donors and platelet donors in time
• that the tumor doesn’t start to grow again because he’s been off chemo for almost 4 weeks
• that his white cell count and platelets come up to the right numbers
• that he stays healthy this week, and doesn’t catch any illness or bug!
• that his surgery goes without a hitch. That there are no complications whatsoever.”

Surgery could last 3-7 hours!  They will keep Brayden sedated a day or two afterwards. He will have a breathing tube in but they are hopeful that they will be able to take that out right after surgery.  Brayden is expected to be in ICU for 4-5 days.

Please pray Brayden will not have any complications during surgery, there will be no infections afterwards, and that the Lord gives the surgeon steady hands and wisdom while operating!

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Today marks my paternal grandmother’s 120th birthday.  Not that it matters but just thought about it as I was preparing to write this entry.

I am hearing that the senior adults attending the quartet convention are doing good.  That is obviously good news.  They are scheduled to return home on Saturday.

Robert Baria and Steve Morris were both discharged from the hospital yesterday.  I pray they did not come home too early as neither of them likes to be in the hospital.  However, both have an excellent wife who will provide good care.  Pray for them.

Phillip Turner’s mother continues to not do well physically.  Please say a special prayer for her and the family.

Amy Switzer was involved in an automobile accident this past Monday.  Vehicle was totaled.  Broke three bones in one foot.  She will she an ortho doctor today.  She is praying surgery will not be required.  Join her in that prayer.  I am so going to out do her on the treadmill now!  Just saying!

Jim Broadus’ brother passed from this life.  I do not know the details but ask that you pray for the family.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

This entry is a bit late.  I apologize.  Bro. Jerry sent me some updates in plenty of time so the fault is all mine.

Steve Morris remains in the hospital.  He had hopes of being discharged but has been having some pain issues which could keep him in the hospital for a few more days.

Robert Baria also remains hospitalized.  He too was in hopes of being discharged but his potassium level is too low.  He is probably there until his level increases.

I do not have an update on Phillip Turner’s mother but do ask that you keep praying for her.

There is one other hospitalization but I will not list it until I get the ok.  Just pray.

The group at the quartet convention arrived safe and sound and I assume all is well with them.

Regular schedule on the Friendship campus today.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from the ATL!  As they say, “the best laid plans of rats and cats can get messed up big time!”  Lisa and I did arrive at our destination late last night which is what we expected.  The problem is that we were in an Atlanta hotel and not one in Las Vegas.  What went wrong?  The better question may be “what did not go wrong?”  We obviously missed our connecting flight in Atlanta.  Folks, when you have like twenty minutes upon landing before your connecting flight departs then every second counts especially when you are at the very end of the D concourse and you have to go to the very end of the A concourse.  So, when the gate agent takes like nine minutes and maybe one dozen attempts to get the jet bridge up to the plane then you are doomed.  I literally ran and the gate agent in concourse A had literally just shut the door.  When she finally returned to the gate she was about as unfriendly as a person can be – certainly not a good representation of Delta Airlines.  (I did not mention the gender of the Delta employee driving the jet bridge.  Being kind!)

So, we went to the SkyClub in concourse A and Shirley was very friendly, kind and helpful.  She rebooked us and then gave us a voucher for a hotel room.  Of course, we had nothing with us as everything was in our checked luggage (which did make it to LAS last night).  Lisa looks good regardless of the situation but me on the other hand. . .

Lisa will miss the morning session of the convention.  Nothing we can do about that.  We just hope this morning’s flight is without problems.  Our luggage misses us and cannot wait for us to get to LAS.

No updates on the folks mentioned yesterday.  Just keep praying.

I assume the senior adults arrived to their destination safe and sound.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning!  What?  It is 5:00PM!  Well, it is morning somewhere.  Just saying!  I am now officially on vacation although my Monday has been anything but up to this point.

I am LOL as I just hit the publish button way early!  Folks, you cannot fix stupid!  I am living proof!

Phillip Turner’s mother has been admitted to the hospital.  I visited her this morning and she is a very sick lady.  Pray for her and the family.

Robert Baria was admitted to the hospital early this morning.  He is in ICU.  I visited with him and he was much improved.  He is ready to be discharged as he is supposed to be at the hunting camp next Monday.  He has priorities!  Pray for Robert and his family.

Steve Morris had a good day yesterday.  Today not so great.  He was waiting to see the doctor when I visited earlier today.  Pray for Steve & Virginia.

Twenty three senior adults boarded a charter bus around 7:15AM today and headed to the National Quartet Convention.  They will return on Saturday.  Pray for traveling mercies.  Pray for them to be blessed!

Lisa and I are in the Mobile airport waiting on our delayed flight.  We will be arriving at a destination very late tonight.  I am not going to commit to blogging daily but we shall see.

The church office is open daily from 8:00AM until noon and then from 1:00 until 5:00PM.  Bro. Jerry and the deacons stand ready to help if a need arises.

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

Happy fourth birthday to Audrey.  I have always called her “baby Audrey” but she is now a big girl!  I hope she has an awesome day today.  Again, thanks to Daphne for traveling to Guatemala to be with Audrey on her special day.  Happy birthday Audrey!

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good Saturday morning from somewhere in Mississippi as we are traveling to Tuscaloosa.  Do you know how difficult it is to blog while driving?

First, I failed to mention that Greg Boutwell was having a procedure done on one of his legs yesterday.  He did well.  I spoke to Kim yesterday afternoon and she basically described what they did to Greg.  It hurt me just listening to that description.  It will be two to three weeks before it can be determined if the procedure was a success.  Pray, pray, pray as a positive result could greatly change Greg’s life.

Second, today is the day that a blind girl in Canada gets married!  Nick Davis aka “nic at night” is getting married today!  Nick is the grandson of John & Laurie King and lived with them in Guatemala for several years.  I would love to be there today but it just was not possible.  Congratulations to Nick and his bride!

Pray for the Ann Collins family today.  Remember, food needs to be in the fellowship hall before noon today.

Received an iMessage from Larry Whitehurst yesterday telling me that he was HOME!  Praise the Lord that those twenty five radiation treatments are now history.  Praying for a complete healing for Larry!

Visited with Steve Morris yesterday afternoon.  He was doing good all things considered.  Virginia has not left his side.  Steve & Virginia are an awesome couple.  Keep praying for Steve.

Regular schedule tomorrow – morning and evening.  I am praying the members of the Friendship family will be faithful.

Eddie Albritton is going to the game with us today.  I just found out that he sleeps with a teddy bear each night.  He is a little skittish in big crowds so he asked if I would be his “teddy bear” today!  What does that even mean?

Also, Kendall Falana asked me Wednesday night if Beth Bradley was the lady in Lowes last Saturday.  Why would Kendall suspect Beth?  I am not saying a word!

Coach Eric “just call me Nick” Collier led his Bobcats to victory last night.  He told me it is all part of the process.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Steve Morris did very well during his surgery.  The doctor was pleased.  Here is the tough part for Steve at this point – he cannot have anything to eat or drink for five days.  He will most likely be in the hospital for seven days.  The good part is that all of this is about to be a thing of the past for Steve and he will be recovered.  Keep praying!

Larry Whitehurst should be just a few minutes away from receiving his twenty fifth and  final radiation treatment – hallelujah!  He and Judy will then be making their way home.  Pray that the radiation has done exactly what the doctors planned for it to do.

The visitation with the Ann Collins family takes place tomorrow, 9/22, from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM service time.  Visitation and service at Radney’s Funeral Home on Dauphin Street in Mobile.  Pray for the family.

If you are helping with the food for the Collins family please have it in the fellowship hall no later than noon tomorrow.  Thank you to Tina Wilkinson for coordinating this ministry.  Thank you to each person providing food.

Pot meet kettle – “U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who told men to “just shut up and step up” in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, might have some explaining to do about her campaign cash.

Data show that Hawaii’s Hirono has taken money from a fellow Democrat who has admitted hitting his wife.

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper’s First State PAC donated $1,000 to Hirono’s political campaign in June, despite the Delaware lawmaker’s confession of abuse.

Also receiving donations from Carper’s group was U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will decide if Kavanaugh is appointed to the nation’s highest court. Feinstein has received $5,000 from the PAC so far in 2018.

Other Democrats benefitting from Carper’s PAC include U.S. Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Bill Nelson of Florida and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who’ve received $10,000 each from the PAC this year.”

Copied and pasted from an article on Foxnews.com.

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