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 – Ezekiel 9-12

Tuesday, August 30 – Ezekiel 13-15
Wednesday, August 31 – Ezekiel 16-17

We were blessed by the Lord with a good day in our services yesterday.  The highlight of the day was a public profession of faith in our 10:30AM service and then another one in our 6:00PM service.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

The retirement reception for Bro. Kerry Kelley was well attended.  Hilda Gunter and crew did a nice job of coordinating the fellowship. Our deacons did a nice job of setting up and helping clean up.  The church family did well in bringing the food.  Thank you to everyone who attended, helped in any way, et cetera.  As always, to God be the glory.

Miss Maxine Rogers and Randy Collins both remain hospitalized.  I will be visiting them today, Lord willing.

College football really begins this week starting with games on Thursday night.  I am so ready!  BTW, would you pray for my friend, Morris Bryant?  I think he has lost it!  He told me last night that he is going to Jacksonville, FL in the very near future to watch a soccer game!  (What will we not do for our grandchildren!)  Maybe Curly, Larry & Mo will have him serving as a game official for the Friendship soccer league which begins 9/10?

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 – Ezekiel 5-8

The burial service for Tim Knighten’s stepmother will take place at 3:00PM this afternoon in Quitman, Mississippi.  Special thanks to Randall & Rita Broome for driving over to Pace, FL yesterday afternoon to sing in the celebration of life service and to Tyrone & Jodi Crawley for being there to support Tim and his family.

Today is appreciation day for our Minister of Music/Senior Adult Minister, Bro. Kerry Kelley as this month marks his fourteenth year on our staff. Today will also be Bro. Kerry’s final Sunday with us as a staff member as he is entering retirement.  So, two things will happen today.  First, a love offering will be received in all three services in order for the members of the Friendship family to show their appreciation for Bro. Kerry.  Second, a “farewell/retirement” celebration will take place in the CAB immediately following our 6:00PM worship service tonight.  A card table will be available in the reception.

A huge thank you to each person who came and helped with the work day yesterday.  I did not count but we had probably between twenty five and thirty folks present.  Much was done.  Our B&G team members did an excellent job of leading this effort.  There is more to be done (always) but yesterday was a very good day!

Regular schedule today – morning and evening.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Go to church!

“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 – Ezekiel 1-4

Work day this morning beginning at 8:00AM.  Our B&G team will lead this effort.  Biscuit breakfast at 7:30AM.

Bro. Benny & bus workers will meet at 8:30AM today.  As always, pray for these folks and anyone is invited to join them as they go into the community inviting folks to ride the bus to church.

The visitation with the Knighten family takes place today from 4:00 – 5:00PM at the Wallace Baptist Church in Milton, Florida.  The celebration of life service for Miss Marilyn takes place at 5:00PM.  Burial service tomorrow afternoon in Quitman, Mississippi.  Keep praying for the Knighten family.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  The “farewell/retirement” reception for Bro. Kerry Kelley takes place immediately following the evening service.  Casseroles and desserts needed.  Contact Hilda Gunter if you need more information.

I am thankful that the Alabama State Senate killed the lottery bill for this session (or so they say it is dead).  I was not pleased when it made its’ way out of the State House of Representatives.

Watched the first half of the first college football game of the year last night.  It had such a late start.  Speaking of football, congratulations to Coach Eric Collier and the Theodore Bobcats on another victory last night.  The Bobcats are now 2 – 0.  Must be the coaching!  Bryant & Faith both suffered losses in their first regular season game as they played each other in a jamboree last week.

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

The Friendship family will host a service at the Mission of Hope tonight beginning at 7:00PM.  Bus leaves the church at 6:15PM.  Everyone invited!

“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 –  Lamentations 3:37-5:22

The arrangements for Tim Knighten’s stepmother are as follows – visitation with the family tomorrow afternoon from 4:00 – 5:00PM at the Wallace Baptist Church in Milton, FL.  The celebration of life service will begin at 5:00PM.  A graveside service will take place on Sunday afternoon at 3:00PM in Quitman, MS.  Continue to pray for Tim’s dad and the family.

Visited with Randy Collins yesterday.  He was in SICU but was supposed to be placed in a regular room later in the day.  He has certainly had a tough go of it over these past two months.

David Bosarge’s mother, Miss Maxine, was better than I have seen her all week when I visited with her yesterday.  It now appears that she will not be going into rehab when she is discharged from the hospital.

We need casseroles and desserts for the “farewell/retirement” reception for Bro. Kerry Kelley this Sunday evening.  Simply bring those to the CAB before the evening service begins.  We need the deacons and staff to help set up tables and chairs immediately following the second morning service this Sunday.

Work day tomorrow morning beginning at 8:00AM.  Biscuit breakfast at 7:30AM.  The forecast calls for a fifty percent chance of rain but the work day is a go regardless.  Again, our Buildings & Grounds team is leading this effort.

Our TNBA numbers were down last night.  However, that did not stop “game winning shot” James Mareno from doing that in two of the three games his team won.

It is a little after 4:00AM and Lisa says the groceries had best be in the house come daybreak so off to Walmart I go!

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

I am please to say that our State Senator, Bill Hightower, and our State Representative, David Sessions, have both voted against the proposed lottery bills being considered by our state lawmakers.  The proponents of the gambling interests are working feverishly today to get a referendum on the November 8 ballot.  I am praying that will not happen.

I encourage those served by Senator Hightower and Representative Sessions to contact them expressing your appreciation for their stand against gambling.

Peggy sent me an e-mail today to inform me that Tim’s step-mother, Marilyn, passed away early this morning.  She had knee replacement surgery last Thursday, was moved to rehab this past Monday, and was taken to the ER yesterday due to breathing issues and low oxygen levels.

Tim is in Pensacola with his dad.  Pray for them as they walk through this valley.  Will announce the arrangements once they are completed.

“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 – Lamentations 1:1-3:36

Good Wednesday in our services.  We had a really nice attendance in our morning service and the evening attendance got better about ten minutes into the service.  God is good.  He is faithful.

It was good to see Carla in our service last night.  (Please do not tell her that I said that!)  Praying fervently for Carla and all others battling cancer.

Randy Collins was admitted to the hospital again.  Wow!

David Bosarge’s mother, Miss Maxine, remains in the hospital.  She will eventually be discharged to rehab.

We need folks to call the church office today (8:00AM – 12:00PM; 1:00PM – 5:00PM) to let us know if you will bring a casserole and/or dessert to the farewell/retirement reception this Sunday night, August 28.  Obviously, this is for Bro. Kerry Kelley as he is retiring and this Sunday will be his last service day with us.  We want to have a good crowd and plenty of food.  BTW, Bro. Kerry will be cleaning out his office and wrapping things up next week through Thursday, 9/1.

TNBA tonight at 7:00PM.  Intense!

Mission of Hope service tomorrow night, 8/26, beginning at 7:00PM.  Bus leaves Friendship at 6:15PM.  Everyone invited!

Work day this Saturday, 8/27, beginning at 8:00AM.  Biscuit breakfast at 7:30AM in the fellowship hall.  We could use a bush hog or two on the front part of the back forty.

I am so ready for the college football season to begin.  Attending some of the Bama games is good family time for us.  (We may have to change TNBA once the Thursday night games begin)  I will even watch a pro game on Sunday nights if it is competitive.  However, college football remains my preference.

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 –  Jeremiah 51-52

Carla Kyser met with the doctor at UAB yesterday afternoon.  They had nothing new to offer her but suggested she go back to a chemo used on her several years ago or the one her doctor in Mobile has suggested.  The doctor said that she did not need to be on any chemo that would lessen her quality of life i.e. make her really sick.  Folks, we need to bombard heaven on Carla’s behalf.  Pray, pray, pray!

Per Reb’s comment on yesterday’s entry, Holly has treatments for three more weeks and then finds out where she stands regarding her cancer.  Join Reb in praying that it will all be gone.

Becky is taking a lower dosage of chemo.  Bernard continues with his daily radiation treatments.  Pray for this father/daughter.

Miss Maxine Rogers seemed some better to me yesterday morning (being the doctor that I am).  She had been given more blood and that usually helps pick a person up.  She is very grateful for the prayer support.

Randy Collins was discharged from the hospital.

Work day this Saturday, 8/27, beginning at 8:00AM.  Biscuit breakast at 7:30AM.  The seven members of our Buildings & Grounds team will lead this effort.  We will finish before noon.  All hands on deck!

The “farewell/retirement” reception for Bro. Kerry Kelley will take place this Sunday, 8/28, immediately following our evening service.  Our church hostess, Hilda Gunter, will coordinate this fellowship.  We need folks to bring casseroles and desserts.  We want this to be a well attended fellowship which is why we are having it this Sunday instead of the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

A student fellowship was on the calendar for this Sunday evening but that event has been postponed.  Josh will announce the new date when it is finalized.

Regular schedule today/tonight.  Dale Bosarge will be teaching our senior high students tonight.  I believe that Carl Brinkman will be sharing with our middle school students.  We will split for our 7:30PM Bible study.  Cold cut subs with chips and pies are on the menu for that Bible study.

Larry, Curly and Moe had a meeting last night to work on the soccer teams.  They give me zero information and then expect me to put it on the blog.  So here is what I have from them regarding the soccer league up to this point – !  A concerned parent has informed me that the league play begins on Saturday, 9/10, and ends on Saturday, 10/29.

We got a pretty good rain early yesterday afternoon.  I came home and started mowing a little after 5:00PM.  The ground was pretty saturated.  The lightning drove me inside just before 7:00PM and then the rains came again.  I will have to find out from Bobby Broome how much rain fell here on the little hill behind the skating rink.  Wait, you just mowed your grass last Friday.  Sure did.  Will mow it again this Friday, Lord willing.  By the way, I had the same amount of help from Soy & Rusty yesterday as I did last Friday – just saying!

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