Pastor's Blog

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 13-15;    Matthew 5:1-26

Ruby Gulley is scheduled to have surgery today.  She will then be in the hospital for about one week.  Pray that all goes well.

David Bosarge’s mother, Miss Maxine Rogers, is seemingly near the end of her earthly life.  Dale was sharing with me at church last night that she appeared to take a turn for the worse late yesterday and they did not know if she would live through the night.  As of this writing, (2:30AM) she is still with us as far as I know.  Pray for Miss Maxine and the family.

Darlene McCaster, daughter of Robert & Roseanne Baria, is in the hospital battling an infection.  She has been there since last Saturday and probably has at least another day or two in the hospital.

Jo Nell Barnes was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  She is a happy camper!

Spoke to Ray Baber via the phone yesterday and he was not feeling well at all.  This did not seem to be related to his surgery.  Pray for Ray!

Jennifer Brown’s maternal grandmother, Miss Peggy Johns, passed from this life on Tuesday.  The visitation with the family takes place tonight in Aberdeen, MS and the service will take place tomorrow afternoon, 1/6, also in Aberdeen.  Pray for the family.

Rachel Jackson’s brother, David, passed away unexpectedly yesterday.  Pray for the family.

Chuck Rockwell and Jeanette Strahan’s brother, Norman Rockwell, passed from this life.  The funeral service will take place on Saturday just North of Birmingham, AL.  Pray for the Rockwell family.

Carla Kyser continues to be at home battling against her malignancy.  She is a fighter!  Keep praying!

Lisa Thompson and her sister, Brenda Timberlake, should be traveling home from Houston, TX today.  Lisa has literally been too sick to travel.  Pray for Lisa and Brenda.

Tim Knighten just keeps on keeping on.  The treatments have knocked him back a step or two but he keeps going.  Pray for Tim.

Becky Sellers has a scan this week and the begins another round of chemotherapy on Monday, 1/9.

It was good to be back in a “normal” routine yesterday regarding our services.  Blessed day!

Men’s breakfast Saturday, 1/7, from 8:00 – 9:00AM in the fellowship hall.  All men invited!

Morris & Diane and Lisa & I got tickets through the university to Monday night’s game in Tampa.  The Bryants leave today without us – how rude!  (Must be nice to be retired!). Lord willing, Lisa and I will leave Sunday night after the evening service heading that way.  I read late yesterday afternoon where the “get in” price is now around one thousand dollars.  Please do not tell Lisa this as she will sell our tickets in a heartbeat!  I see “football game” and she sees “new outfits!”

If the weather folks are correct, we will see some cooler temperatures over the next few days – hooray!  They are calling for a low of twenty five degrees on Saturday night.  Is that great or what!  Tomorrow’s forecast calls for a high of forty seven with rain – basically a perfect day!  (Nanette has invited me over for hot chocolate!).

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

Just learned that Jennifer Brown’s grandmother passed away during the night last night.  I do not know her name and, obviously, the arrangements are pending.  Pray for the family.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 10 – 12; Matthew 4

Jo Nell Barnes remains in the hospital but may come home today.  They now say that she does not have the flu or pneumonia.

Jennifer Brown’s maternal grandmother took a fall yesterday morning.  She lives in the Starkville, MS area.  She is on life support.

Robert & Rose Anne Baria’s daughter, Darlene, is in the hospital with an infection.

Tim Knighten was possible “some” better last night after getting some steroids.  He continues to lose weight which is not what the doctors want.

Visited with Carla Kyser yesterday morning.  Really no change in her situation.

Lisa Thompson should return home from Houston today.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  The fare for the 7:30PM Bible study is spaghetti with the trimmings.

Men’s breakfast this Saturday, 1/7, from 8:00 – 9:00AM in the fellowship hall.  All men are invited to attend.

There was one salvation at the McKemie Place last night – praise the Lord!

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3

Jo Nell Barnes was admitted to the hospital last night.  They were doing some tests and wanted to keep her at least overnight for observation.

Lisa Thompson is in Houston but should be returning home tomorrow.  There is a medicine she can receive in Mobile which will require a ten days hospital stay.  Not sure when that process will begin.

Carla Kyser remains at home but just continues to need our prayers.

Becky Sellers will have a scan at some point this week and then will begin another round of chemo next Monday, 1/9.

Tim Knighten has been weakened by the weekly chemo and the daily radiation treatments.

Leslie Hacker’s great niece continues to need our prayers as it relates to her injuries from the accident that took place this past November.

Mary Cook has been diagnosed with Polymyositis.  This has been an ongoing problem for months.  At least the doctors now know what they are battling.

Join me in praying for all of these folks and their needs.

The church office is open today from 8:00AM – 12:00PM and then from 1:00PM until 5:00PM.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

Wow, have we gotten some rain over the past three or four days?  Yesterday afternoon was just nasty.  I enjoy the rain but not that much in such a short period of time.  However, God knows what He is doing!

We are now entering a “sad” time of the year when it comes to sports as the college football season is almost over.  There have been some good bowl games with yesterday’s Rose Bowl being fun to watch.

Heard from one person using the daily Bible reading plan being posted on this blog.  Good enough for me.

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

The Bible  verse for the Friendship family in 2017 is found in I Peter 4:10 – “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (NASB).  Yes, this is our theme verse for GRACE Ministries.  I encourage you to memorize but, more importantly, I encourage you to live it!

I had said that I was not going to list a daily Bible reading each day but have had a change of heart.  If only one other person takes advantage of this reading plan then it is worth it to me.  (It would be nice to know if anyone is using this OT/NT plan). So, here it goes:

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2

Tuesday, January 3 – Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3
Wednesday, January 4 – Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4
Thursday, January 5 – Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26
Friday, January 6 – Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48
Saturday, January 7 – Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18
Sunday, January 8 – Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34

We were blessed with a good first Sunday of 2017.  The heavy rains did us no favors concerning our attendance although it was good considering the holiday and the weather.  Last night’s service saw Lane Lofton accept Jesus as his personal Savior.   Glory to God.

Our bowling fellowship was a success.  What a great time for families.  I have gotten several e-mails from folks thanking us for arranging the fellowship and saying what a great time they had.  Seeing the families enjoying each other was a blessing!

I ask you to keep praying for those folks battling cancer and all of the other needs for which we have been praying.  I will update those needs over the next few days.

Remember, the church office is closed today, 1/2.  Will open tomorrow morning, 1/3, at 8:00AM.

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

Happy New Year!

Good morning from a seemingly water logged Grand Bay!  If the old adage that “one drop of rain will keep forty Baptists away from church” is true then we will be in negative numbers attendance wise today!  I do realize the rain could be a major deterrent to some of our most senior adults but the rest of us should drive carefully and be in our rightful place this morning.  We would no doubt go to work, school, sporting events, et cetera in spite of the rain.

Sunday School today at 9:15AM.  Morning worship at 10:30AM.  Evening worship at 6:00PM.

I am asking our senior adults to fill the choir loft for our 10:30AM service.  Simply go to the choir loft once you are in the auditorium for the morning service.  This is for anyone sixty five years of age or older.

Church wide bowling fellowship tonight from 8:00 – 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS for anyone attending our 6:00PM worship service.  Cost is five dollars per bowler with a maximum of twenty dollars per immediate family.

My friend, Joe David Bailey, officially begins his tenure as the pastor of Danville Baptist Church today.  Congratulations to Pastor Joe David!

Nanette Brooks Fontenot and I wish each of you a very Happy New Year!  (She basically begged me to put that in the blog or else).

This blog will be ten years old in 2017!  Can you believe it?  Our goal this year is to reach twenty readers!  We can do it!  (My personal goal is to mention my former girlfriend & almost wife, Nanette Brooks, more often!).

Morris got us home shortly after midnight.  Once again, we had a great time of fellowship with Morris & Diane.  Do we have plans to attend the national championship game next Monday, 1/9?  We do, Lord willing.  Lisa and I will leave after the evening service next Sunday to begin our trek South and will join Morris & Diane there.  Can Alabama beat Clemson again?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  That is why they play the game!

I do want to provide props to my older brother, Eddie, for providing us rooms in Atlanta this past Friday night.  Great hotel and great location.  He is a giver and we are grateful!  (I wonder if they have hotels in Tampa that can be gotten with points?  Just saying!).

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

The plan for 2017 will be a reading from the Old Testament along with a reading from the New Testament each day.  Follow this plan and you will read the Bible through this year.

January 2017

January 1 Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1
January 2 Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2
January 3 Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3
January 4 Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4
January 5 Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26
January 6 Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48
January 7 Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18
January 8 Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34
January 9 Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7
January 10 Genesis 25-26; Matthew 8:1-17
January 11 Genesis 27-28; Matthew 8:18-34
January 12 Genesis 29-30; Matthew 9:1-17
January 13 Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-38
January 14 Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20
January 15 Genesis 36-38; Matthew 10:21-42
January 16 Genesis 39-40; Matthew 11
January 17 Genesis 41-42; Matthew 12:1-23
January 18 Genesis 43-45; Matthew 12:24-50
January 19 Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:1-30
January 20 Genesis 49-50; Matthew 13:31-58
January 21 Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21
January 22 Exodus 4-6; Matthew 14:22-36
January 23 Exodus 7-8; Matthew 15:1-20
January 24 Exodus 9-11; Matthew 15:21-39
January 25 Exodus 12-13; Matthew 16
January 26 Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17
January 27 Exodus 16-18; Matthew 18:1-20
January 28 Exodus 19-20; Matthew 18:21-35
January 29 Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19
January 30 Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16
January 31 Exodus 25-26; Matthew 20:17-34

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Revelation 19-22

Good morning from Atlanta.  Can you believe that 2016 is now only a few hours away from being history?  Wow!

Our schedule for tomorrow, 1/1/17, is Sunday School at 9:15AM, worship at 10:30AM and our evening worship at 6:00PM.

Our church wide bowling fellowship will take place from 8:00 – 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, Mississippi.  This is open to anyone attending our evening service.  The cost is five dollars per bowler (not observers) with a limit of twenty dollars per immediate family.  The bowling lanes will have their concession stand open.  I hope we will have a great participation in this family outing.

Final reminder – you can write a check to the church dated for 12/31/16 and place it in the mail today in order to get tax credit for this year.  This will be your final opportunity for 2016.  Of course, you can begin the new year by giving an offering in tomorrow’s services.  Thank you for giving to the Lord!

Morris, Diane, Lisa and I had the privilege of briefly visiting with Decker & Martha Terry and Ron & Peggy Terry yesterday morning as we made our way to Atlanta.  What delightful folks!  I am so glad that God has allowed us to get to know Decker & Martha!  What a blessing they are to us!

The four of us enjoyed a meal from the seventy first floor of the hotel last night.  That level rotates so we enjoyed seeing the city of Atlanta at night as we ate.  Mark & Tina took us to the ninety fifth floor for a meal in Chicago.  Morris & Diane could not get us that hight but did get us the rotating view!  Good stuff!

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Revelation 12-18

Elizabeth Martin did well through her surgery and was sent home afterwards.  She sent me a message last night saying she was doing good outside of some pain from the surgery.

Ray Baber was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Visited with him late yesterday afternoon in order to take him some food that several of our ladies cooked.  He is doing pretty good and was very thankful for the meal.  Want to help feed Ray for the next week or two?  Contact my wife.

Speaking of food, our 50-59 Sunday School class is helping feed the Willadean Johnson family today.  (I did not see this information until too late yesterday)  If you can help, have the food in our fellowship hall by 9:30AM today.  Questions?  Tina Wilkinson is the point person.

The service for Miss Willa Dean takes place this morning at 11:00AM from the Lighthouse of Hope Church on Argyle Road.

Dave Sellers sent me a message saying that Becky will have a scan next week and then begin a new regiment of chemo treatments on Monday, 1/9.

Carla Kyser saw the oncologist yesterday.  Basically, they are staying the course for the time being.

Peggy gave me an update on Tim Knighten.  He is still trying to eat as much as he can.  The treatments are wearing him down in some ways but his attitude remains great!

Speaking of Peggy, she is afraid that folks are going to “believe” my announcement that everyone going bowling this Sunday night is invited to their house for a New Year’s night party afterwards.  Why would that not believe it?  LOL!

Lisa and I will join Morris & Diane Bryant this morning as we head toward Atlanta for tomorrow’s game.  (Decker & Martha, you may have company for like five minutes around mid morning – just a heads up). I am a SEC conference (Rusty’s language) homer but their bowl record is not too sparkling right now as they are at one win and four losses.  Are you kidding me?  Oh well, I think there are seven more games to go so it could get much better.  Or much worse!

Sunday School at 9:15AM this Sunday, 1/1.  Worship at 10:30AM and 6:00PM.  Bowling from 8:00 – 10:00PM for those attending the evening service.

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Revelation 6-11

Elizabeth Martin will have surgery this afternoon.  Since Elizabeth is a student at Theodore High and is a cheerleader one would expect Coach Eric Collier to show up to support her during this surgery.  Just saying!  Pray that the surgery goes as planned.

The visitation with the Willadean Johnson family takes place tonight from 5:00 – 9:00PM at the Lighthouse of Hope Church on Argyle Road in Irvington.  The service will take place tomorrow, 12/30, beginning at 11:00AM also from the church.  Pray for the Johnson family.

Visited with Ray Baber yesterday morning.  He had a tough first night following surgery.  Thinks he will be discharged today.  (May have been discharged late yesterday but I do not think so).  I am hearing of a few folks willing to help keep Ray fed during his recovery period.  He lives alone and does not cook.  Ministry opportunity.  Interested?  Contact Lisa or me personally.

Visited with Miss Maxine too.  She took a fall on Tuesday night.  Not sure what all of that will involve as they were doing tests and waiting on results from earlier tests.

Amy Huhn’s father had surgery yesterday morning.  I visited with the family for awhile as the procedure was taking place.  Amy was supposed to send me an update when it was finished.  Someone cue the Jeopardy music, please!

Carla Kyser will see the doctor today.  Pray for that visit.

Soy is visibly upset about some movie star passing away.  He is upset at me for not posting this yesterday.  I think her name was “Lulu?”  If so, I remember her from “Hee Haw!”  I cannot post every obit in the world!  I told Soy to call BR549!

The Rusty Suthoff/Jack Lastorka bowling challenge takes place this Sunday night from 8:00 – 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  Attend our evening service and then join us for some great fellowship and SC highlight material bowling!  Five dollars per bowler with a twenty dollars maximum per immediate family.

Our Sunday schedule will be Sunday School at 9:15AM followed by worship at 10:30AM.  We will then have our evening service beginning at 6:00PM.  (No early service and no Discipleship Training)

Need to catch up on your financial giving in 2016?  Either stop by the church office between 8:00AM and noon today or place a check in the mail by Saturday, 12/31/16.  Date your check no later than 12/31/16 too.  The 2016 postmark will allow you to receive tax credit for this calendar year.

Remember, the church office closes today at noon and will reopen on Tuesday, 1/3/17!  Lord willing, I will be out of town tomorrow and Saturday but Bro. Jerry and our deacons are available in the event of an emergency.

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