Pastor's Blog

Good Wednesday morning from blog central!  Regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  I pray that many members of the Friendship family will be present for those services, classes, et cetera.

The yard sale will be open immediately following each service today for those who attend the respective service.  Open to everyone else beginning at 8:00AM.  There is a silent auction that will culminate on Saturday morning.

I have a confession.  This makes two in less than a week.  I walked over to the CAB yesterday and was the first customer of the 2024 yard sale.  This is big for me as I do not do yard sales – at all!  So why did I do it?  They had something that I felt could possibly be used in Guatemala and Deidra concurred.  So, she now has some Christmas gifts for some of the children in Colegio JET.  (Clara and crew do not know that I know that Sammy Bowden was actually their first customer as he bought something on Monday)

Speaking of Guatemala, Joey, Bibbi & family are doing well there.  Seeing things from a totally different perspective.  Deidra and the girls are enjoying the Bosarge family being on the mountain.  I so appreciate them being there to help Deidra.

Weekend before last, John Milton plowed my garden spot.  Going to have a garden, Lord willing, but on a different scale.  I appreciate John Milton and his tremendous generosity to my family and me.

Scott Fontenot probably needs to go back to work because in his retirement Clara (yard sale) and Daphne (soccer concessions) are not giving him a break.  He is working sixteen hour days!  LOL!

Gary DenBleyker has graciously allowed us to use his Honda generator for the past two nights for the soccer concession stand.  What a huge blessing!  Thank you, Gary.

Grant Tillman is allowing us to use his trailer to “be” the concession stand.  How nice is that! Katie hit me up last night for some possible “rent” money but I am just going to deal with Grant.  Remember, Katie is Diane’s daughter!  Just saying!

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

The CAB is looking more like a yard sale is about to take place as the folks worked hard yesterday to get things ready.  More of the same today.  There is still time to bring your items to the CAB.  Thank you to each person who is helping with this ministry.  Pray all goes well!

Oh my!  I have never seen anything like it!  Every parking space on our campus was filled last night for the soccer games.  I have never seen that many vehicles on our campus.  Unbelievable!  What would happen if soccer was a real sport?  Anyway, things went well.  Bro. Abel does an amazing job of leading this ministry and he has some great folks helping him.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  Psalm 122:1!

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day of worship yesterday.  Yes, the time change had a negative effect on our attendance and that will probably never change.  I have never been in favor of the time change.  Choose one time, set it, and leave it alone!

Speaking of politics, I am not happy with our state house or senate regarding the gambling issue.

Shawn Grant remains in rehab.  Keep praying for her.

I “think” Rick Bradley’s mother has been moved to a Pascagoula hospital.  Continue to pray for Mrs. Bradley.

The folks are working today, tomorrow and Wednesday getting ready for the yard sale.  You can bring your items to the CAB today.

Spring soccer leagues begin play late this afternoon.  Pray for this ministry under the leadership of Bro. Abel.

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

Edna Pearl Morgan has a wheelchair that can be used by Grady tomorrow.  Thank you, Edna.  Thank you to each person who has looked.  Blessings!

Grady Walker wants to attend our morning service tomorrow (Sunday).  He needs a wheelchair as the rehab company was not able to get one delivered today.  This is an eleventh hour request but does anyone have one, know of one that can be borrowed, et cetera?  If so, please email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net or call me at 251 865 4912.

Spring forward tonight!

Blessings!

Sleepless night!  My shortcoming has been before me all night!  Confession time!  I attended three quarters of a girls high school soccer game last night and then went even deeper by staying for almost half of the boys game.  It was not good – at all!  Felt unclean.  Stopped and bought some food on the way home and could not even eat it!  Came home and took like three showers trying to get it off me!  No success!

Here was my plan – slip in, sit alone, be seen by no one I knew and then slip out.  God would know but no one else would.  Plan foiled immediately.  Even parked outside of the gate so I could deny being present.  Walked through the gate and there stood Dana Taylor.  Are you serious?  Ok, I am good as Dana will be out of town this Sunday on a business trip so she will not be sharing with others at church about my weak moment.  Headed up the steps to find my seat and a police officer calls out, “hey Bro. Teddy!”  Busted!  He used to play RA basketball at Friendship.  His son plays on the team.  Bless his son.  He said, “why are you here?” to which I replied, “just trying to do a little witnessing!”  Ok, it cannot get any worse.  Wrong!  Sitting alone, no one around me and then this lady is coming back to her seat a few rows below me, sees me and says, “hey, my long time friend!”  NO!  She is originally from Grand Bay and I have known her since her high school days.  Her daughter plays on the team.  Bless her daughter. She says, “why are you here?” to which I replied, “suffering!”  Humiliated I now am just waiting on halftime of the boys game to arrive so I can leave.  How could it get any worse?  A couple seated down to my right gets up to leave and while walking past the section where I am seated they look up, see me and come to sit by me.  “Why are you here?  We did not see you earlier.”  Now it is total humiliation!  Be sure your shortcomings will find you out!

Hey pastor, how about prayer needs, thanking Henry & Sue Wyse for taking Jason to his radiation treatment yesterday, Scott Fontenot’s retirement, time change “spring forward” this Saturday night, regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, opening ceremonies at 3:00PM on Sunday afternoon, “I WAS GLAD” emphasis, “I Am A Church Member” and other stuff?  After the night I had do you really think I can write about all of that?  Folks, I am emotionally distraught!

They say confession is good for the soul.  If that is true, why am I feeling this way?

By the way, the two schools involved in the soccer games last night were Christian schools.  Based on the fans comments, et cetera, one could have a difficult time believing they were followers of Jesus.  Just saying!

Gotta go, seeing a professional counselor first thing this morning!

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

Very good day in our services yesterday.  God is good.  God is faithful!  Thank you to those who attended the services.

No significant changes in those for whom we have been praying.  Just keep praying!

Spring forward this Saturday night!

“I WAS GLAD!”  Join us this Sunday beginning at 9:00AM!

“I Am A Church Member” study begins at 5:00PM Sunday night.

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

Decker Terry is a great friend and a great supporter of our mission efforts in Guatemala.  His wife, Martha, entered Heaven a few years ago.  I do not know if our mission efforts have ever had anyone who prayed as diligently as Martha did – what a prayer warrior.  Decker now has very limited mobility yet he continues to pray for us.  I love and appreciate Decker Terry.  I have prayed for him during the night and ask you to join me in praying.  Is anything new wrong with Decker?  No, I just felt led to pray specifically for him.  His only flaw is that he played football at Ole Miss back in the day!

Sheila Booker has been sharing a prayer need regarding her niece in our Wednesday morning prayer meetings.  Yesterday she wrote to let me know that her niece got a really good report from her latest scan.  They are rejoicing!  Praise the Lord!

Jeanette Bates shared with me yesterday that Sonny is improving.  He stayed home alone yesterday and had a physical therapy session.  Keep praying for Sonny.

I have not talked to Rick Bradley about his Mom’s situation but do ask that you join me in continuing to pray for Mrs. Bradley.

Continue to pray for Grady & Carolyn.

Joey & Bibbi Bosarge, along with four of their children, are flying to Guatemala today in order to help with the teams and to assist Deidra in other ways.  Pray for them as they travel and minister.  I am very grateful to them for doing this.  It is expensive financially and time wise.  Thank you Joey & Bibbi!

I appreciate your continual prayers for Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  “I Was Glad” is in play on Wednesdays too!

Opening ceremonies for our soccer leagues takes place this Sunday, 3/10, beginning at 3:00PM.  Games will be played Monday & Tuesday afternoons (late).  No games this Saturday.

I am glad the political primaries are over!  I did not vote for every race on the ballot but that may be a good thing.  I only voted for one person who won their primary.  However, I did exercise my right to vote and I am thankful for that right.

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

Visited with Grady & Carolyn Walker yesterday morning.  The belief was that he would be discharged later in the day.  Not for sure that happened but he was better.  Honestly, Carolyn is perhaps in worse shape than Grady as she has added. pneumonia to her list of physical problems.  Pray for Grady & Carolyn.

Miss Vinnie missed both services Sunday which is way unusual.  She was battling an unexpected illness.  She called me yesterday afternoon and, in the course of our conversation, she told me that she was feeling much better.  Pray for Miss Vinnie.

Miss Vinnie called to give me an update on Rick Bradley’s mother.  Her surgery took place yesterday and all went well.  She will remain in ICU for a few days.  Pray for Mrs. Bradley and her family.

Major announcement regarding our soccer leagues.  Due to the forecast of fairly significant rainfall this Friday & Saturday, everything is being rescheduled.  The opening ceremony will take place this Sunday, 3/10, beginning at 3:00PM.  League play will take place Monday, 3/11, and Tuesday, 3/12.  Please pass the word.  Pray for this ministry.

I encourage you to go vote today.

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

Rick Bradley’s mother was scheduled to have serious surgery in New Orleans beginning early morning yesterday but, as of around 4:00PM, that surgery had not started.  Pray for Mrs. Bradley and the family.

Grady Walker, as far as I know, remains in the hospital but is no longer in ICU.  I spoke to him Saturday and he was trying to get discharged but not sure if that took place.  Keep praying for Grady and Carolyn.

Really good day in our services yesterday.  We had good attendance in our morning worship service and much better than normal in our evening service.  Praise the Lord!

Probably seventy-five to eighty folks got the “I Am A Church Member” book last night.  Yes, we have more available.  You can stop by the church office during office hours or get one in the services this Wednesday.

I love Sundays but this Sunday, 3/10, will be my least favorite one of the year.  Why?  Time change which means we lose an hour on Saturday night.  It seems that folks never forget to “fall back” but often forget to “spring forward!”  Hopefully, we will reverse course this Sunday!

Our soccer leagues are set to begin this Saturday, 3/9.  The weather forecast is not favorable.  Regardless, pray for this ministry.

Our “I Was Glad” emphasis got off to a good start.  Thank you to those who attended Sunday School and the services.

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