Pastor's Blog

“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 –  2 Corinthians 10-13

Happy 81st birthday to Lisa’s father, Charles Clark!  So sad that I cannot be there to celebrate it with him (or something like that!).

I arrived in Guatemala a bit late but safe and sound.  Had to stay in the city for a little extra time to change the ticket so Marc Van Dam could fly home today.  One of his brothers is not expected to live much longer due to a malignancy.  Willard Garnett and I took Marc to the airport early this morning.  Pray for the Van Dam family.

The team started/built six houses yesterday.  We hosted fifteen families for supper last night.  It was a good day/night of ministry.

Today, the team will host two block parties and then host another fifteen families tonight.

In Grand Bay, Randall & Rita will lead the ministry at McKemie Place tonight beginning at 6:00PM.  Pray for that service.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday 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 – 2 Corinthians 5-9
Tuesday, December 6 – 2 Corinthians 10-13
Wednesday, December 7 – Acts 20:1-3; Romans 1-3
Thursday, December 8 – Romans 4-7
Friday, December 9 – Romans 8-10
Saturday, December 10 – Romans 11-13
Sunday, December 11 – Romans 14-16

Good Monday morning from a plane setting at the gate in Gulfport, MS.  I am hopefully bound for Guatemala to join the other twenty eight folks who arrived there on Saturday.  This could be a very important trip for me so I appreciate your prayer support.  As a matter of fact, an extra prayer or two would be awesome!

Wow, what happened?  We needed rain and thank God that He provided some yesterday.  It has been said that “one drop of rain will keep forty Baptists away from church” and I think that was true yesterday morning.  We actually had more folks in attendance last Sunday (Thanksgiving weekend) than we did yesterday.  (Have not seen the numbers but I can usually tell). However, I am very, very grateful to those who were in attendance.  We had good services.  I appreciate our two man band (Levi & Alan) for leading our musical worship in the morning and then Randall for organizing and leading our evening of musical praise.  Good stuff!

Remember, no prayer time on Monday nights during December.

Lisa and I visited with Miss Kathleen Henderson in the hospital last night.  Her COPD is really giving her difficulties.  What a sweet lady.  Pray for her

They are asking for us to shut these devices down so I have to do so.

I pray that you will have a great Monday 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 –  1 Corinthians 15-16

Happy 33rd birthday to our daughter, Daphne, today!  Hope her day is awesome!  (Her husband, Brad, is so excited about it that he is leaving the country!).  BTW, today is also Brad’s dad’s birthday and then Brad & I share a birthday – is that odd or what!

Our December 2016 GRACE Ministries team leaves today heading to Guatemala.  Pray for these folks as they travel from Chicago, Huntsville, Birmingham & Mobile.  They will return next Saturday, 12/10, or Sunday, 12/11.

Men’s breakfast this morning at 8:00AM in the fellowship hall.

Carla Kyser was in pain yesterday.  They did remove the tube so she should be better.  She “may” go home today or she “may” keep milking this thing!

David Bosarge’s mother was much better yesterday.  Much better spirits too.

Myra’s daughter is making nice progress in her recovery.  Keep praying.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning.  No DT tomorrow evening.

The bus workers had their Christmas fellowship last night and it was nice.  Catered by the Heritage House.  I appreciate our bus workers!

We have our SS class Christmas fellowship last night and it went well.  Chris Cavin did a great job with the meat and The Lighthouse provided some great gumbo.  Bo was the star of the show.  Nanette’s daughter, Koach Korie, did not show – just saying!

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 – 1 Corinthians 12-14

Myra Herod’s daughter, Brenda, is seemingly making some improvement.  The doctors now think it will take her a couple of days but she will recover.  She has been really, really sick.  Just keep praying!

Carla Kyser’s surgical procedure went well.  She “could” come home today, “could” be tomorrow, “could be Sunday” as it just depends on how she does.  If it is up to Carla she will be home before breakfast today!

David Bosarge’s mother, Miss Maxine, will be in the hospital at least through the weekend.  She is discouraged and your prayers are appreciated.

Men’s breakfast in the morning at 8:00AM in the fellowship hall.  All men are invited to attend.

Lazaro & Glendy Suruy are set to return home early tomorrow morning.  I appreciate Clara Broadus hosting them for these past couple of days.  I also appreciate each person who has treated them to a meal during their time with us.  A blessing!

We have a team heading to Guatemala tomorrow for a GRACE Ministries trip.  Pray for them as they do ministry and then will return next Saturday, 12/10, and Sunday, 12/11.  Lord willing, I will join them on Monday, 12/5.

Regular schedule on Sunday morning.  No Discipleship Training on Sunday evening.

Our family was hosted by Pastor Shirlon Davis, his wife, Jennifer, and their children last night for supper.  What a great evening of food and fellowship.  Jennifer is an excellent cook and her chicken and dumplings are superb!  I mean superb!

Lord willing, Lisa and I will join Morris & Diane Bryant in traveling to the SEC championship game tomorrow.  It has been a long time since we have spent any time with Morris & Diane and we are looking forward to the fellowship.  We appreciate the invitation.

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 – 1 Corinthians 9-11
Friday, December 2 – 1 Corinthians 12-14
Saturday, December 3 – 1 Corinthians 15-16
Sunday, December 4 – 2 Corinthians 1-4
Monday, December 5 – 2 Corinthians 5-9
Tuesday, December 6 – 2 Corinthians 10-13
Wednesday, December 7 – Acts 20:1-3; Romans 1-3
Thursday, December 8 – Romans 4-7
Friday, December 9 – Romans 8-10
Saturday, December 10 – Romans 11-13
Sunday, December 11 – Romans 14-16

Carla Kyser is scheduled to have surgery this morning.  The hope is to prevent the excessive build up of fluid in/around her lungs.  This will help her breathing from this point forward.

Myra Herod’s daughter, Brenda, is in the ICU.  She had been in the hospital for about week following surgery.  She was discharged on Tuesday afternoon and was readmitted yesterday morning.   She suffered three seizures in about a six hour span and has never had seizures previously.  They are trying to do a MRI but have not been successful thus far.  Pray for Brenda, her family and the medical personnel.

David Bosarge’s mother, Miss Maxine, has been admitted to the hospital again.  She was taking chemo and her blood count continues to be low.

Men’s breakfast this Saturday, 12/3, from 8:00 – 9:00AM.  All men invited.

I pray that you will have a great Thursday 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 – 1 Corinthians 5-8

Found out yesterday that Miss Kathleen Henderson remains in the hospital.  They are fairly certain that she will be discharged today.  I will be checking on her following our morning service.

We are on a regular schedule this morning and evening.  Hopefully, the Friendship family can settle back into a “normal” routine from now until school breaks for Christmas.  Prayerfully, that “normal” will involve being faithful to attend our services.

If you are sponsoring a resident of the convalescent home for Christmas, we need your gift brought to the church either this morning, this evening or this Sunday morning or evening.  You can simply place your gift in the foyer of the auditorium.  Please make sure the name of the resident is on the outside of the wrapped gift.  Thank you.

Our Girls In Action are once again sponsoring the GA Post Office for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  If you are going to send Christmas cards to folks within the Friendship family then please use this service.  Simply put the name(s) of the recipient on the envelope and place it in the “mailbox” in the foyer of the auditorium.  You can then put $0.47 for each card in an offering envelope and simply mark “GA Post Office” on the designated side.  All of the money will go toward our LMCO.  The deadline for placing cards in the “mailbox” will be Sunday, 12/18.

We have twelve Yankees, five folks from outside the Friendship family and twelve members of the Friendship family who will be traveling to Guatemala this Saturday in order to celebrate Christmas with the families involved in our feeding center.  Also, they will be building six houses and hosting six block parties for some very needy children in six different villages.  Folks, this may be the best trip of the year for GRACE Ministries as it is definitely different from any other trip we host.  Pray for this team.  (I will be joining this team on Monday, 12/5, as I will be here for our services this Sunday)

I am praying that we will get some rain today.  My prayers go to those families who lost loved ones in the Northeast part of Alabama early this morning due to the possible tornadoes.

Let me say “good morning” to Nanette Brooks Fontenot!  Why?  Really?

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday 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 – 1 Corinthians 1-4

We had a good number attend our final regularly scheduled prayer time for 2016 last night.  I am grateful to those who are faithful to attend this time of calling out to God.  I will have to be honest in saying that I was tremendously blessed last night when Tim Knighten showed up just before our ending time.  He had just left from receiving his first radiation treatment and drove straight to the church.  He had gone through about six or seven hours of receiving his first chemo treatment as well.  Now, Tim did not come just because he is undergoing treatment as Tim has been one of our “regulars” on Monday nights.  Pray for Tim!

Dave Sellers contacted me yesterday to say that Becky received her final chemo treatment yesterday.  In due time they will do another scan.  Keep praying for Becky.

TJ sent word yesterday that Lindsey & Piper aka Tjetta both came home from the hospital yesterday.  He said mother and daughter are both doing well.

Thank you to each person who sent me recipes for roux and/or gumbo yesterday.  Really nice response.  I am gathering this information to share with a friend who is trying to learn how to cook gumbo.  We only have like thirteen readers and I heard from like five of them regarding this request.  That is fifty percent which is good!

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

We will have our final scheduled prayer time of 2016 tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  Please enter/exit through the West side door of the auditorium.  Come and go.  Come and stay.  Just pray!

“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 – Acts 18:19-19:41

Tuesday, November 29 – 1 Corinthians 1-4
Wednesday, November 30 – 1 Corinthians 5-8

We seemingly had a “ton” of our regular church folks out of town yesterday but we still had a good attendance in all three services.  I am always grateful when the Friendship folks are able to get away and spend time with their family.  I am also grateful when those in town are faithful to attend – what a blessing!

Lazaro & Glendy Suruy did a nice job of sharing in the Hispanic service yesterday morning and then in our evening service.  They will be with us until this Saturday morning when they will fly back to Guatemala.  All of their evenings are filled but they are available for breakfast or lunch today, Thursday or Friday.

What a blessing to see Blow Joe Guidry in our 10:30AM service yesterday.  He only missed two Sundays after having five heart bypasses on 11/11.  Pretty amazing!

Tim Knighten begins his chemotherapy treatments this morning and his radiation treatments this afternoon.  Pray for Tim as he begins this phase of this journey.  Tim has such a positive outlook and his faith in God is solid!

Carla Kyser will have a surgical procedure this Thursday morning, 12/1.  This procedure is designed to help combat the fluid build up in/around her lungs.

Lisa Thompson has a low white blood count which is preventing her from receiving another treatment.  They are giving her shots to try and raise those counts so pray that it works.

Miss Dollie Kyser is having issues with her kidneys.  Pray that this can be corrected.

I have not heard from Becky Sellers over the past few days but do know that she has been having some issues because of her treatments and such.  Pray for Becky.

Les Hacker’s great niece was involved in an ATV accident on Saturday.  She is ten years old.  She was injured but not in a life threatening way.  However, her twelve year old friend was fatally injured so please pray for his family.

One of our students, Elizabeth Martin, injured her knee while jumping on a trampoline last Sunday night.  A MRI is scheduled for this Thursday, 12/1, with the results being known on Friday.  It “could” involve her ACL so join me in praying that it does not.

I was under the impression that Miss Kathleen Henderson was discharged from the hospital last Tuesday but I “think” I was wrong on that one.  I will get the details today.

Greg Boutwell did come home from the hospital but still needs our prayer support.

We are on a regular schedule this Wednesday, 11/30.  Our December Sundays will see us NOT have Discipleship Training.  Our Sunday mornings will be “normal” with the exception of Christmas Day when will will only have one service which will begin at 10:30AM.  We will be having a musical praise service this Sunday evening, 12/4, our children’s musical on the evening of 12/11, and our adult choir musical on the evening of 12/18.

Our December Wednesdays are “normal” with the exception of the last one, 12/28, when we will not have any services, classes or activities.

Odd request – do any of you have a good recipe for making gumbo roux?  I know you can buy it in the stores.  I am looking for the best way to make it from scratch.  Believe me when I say this is not for me as I do not cook!  If you have a good recipe or secret, please send it to me via e-mail.  Thanks!

I pray that you will have a great Monday 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 – Galatians 4-6

How about some good news to begin with?  Greg Boutwell was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  What a nice Thanksgiving gift for him!  He was a happy camper!  Keep praying for Greg!

Piper “Tjetta” Vice remains under a small oxygen tent in the nursery.  TJ said that Lindsey “may” be discharged tomorrow.  Not sure if that would apply to Piper or not at this point.

Talked to Cecil Guidry on Wednesday and she said Blow Joe is doing really good in his recovery.  Those Cajuns are tough folks!

Sandra McElwee sent me an e-mail yesterday saying that David’s recovery is slow but sure.

Tim Knighten starts chemo and radiation on Monday.

I hope your Thanksgiving Day was blessed.  I made a couple of hospital visits but other than that did nothing productive.  Wanted to see a close college football game but it became so one sided that I turned it off.  We were blessed to have Lazaro & Glendy with us and we helped them celebrate their twenty first wedding anniversary!  We had turkey, dressing, and all of the trimmings just for them!

Lisa and crew have been shopping all night – boring!  Logan Wainwright has taken Lazaro duck hunting.  Lazaro has never been hunting in his life!  WT & Bernard need to take him deer hunting one day next week!

Lord willing, driving to Birmingham today and then over to Tuscaloosa in the morning to attend the game.  I plan to be back on Saturday night and will be preaching in the morning services.  Lazaro will preach in the Hispanic service on Sunday morning and then to the entire church on Sunday evening.

I “probably” will not post an entry tomorrow or Sunday.  We have a good number of folks out of town but I pray those of us in town will be faithful to attend the services.  I also pray that the members of the Friendship family who are out of town will attend a church service wherever they are.

Why would you not name your baby girl “Tjetta” when her daddy’s name is TJ?  Just asking!

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