Pastor's Blog

Sorry for the lateness of this entry.  No excuses.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise Him.

The Friendship family adopted the 2023 budget as proposed by the Finance Committee.  I appreciate this committee and their work.  I also appreciate the sweet spirit that was present in the meeting.

John Milton Ladnier, Grant Tillman and Larry Whitehurst have been appointed to bring a proposal to the church family regarding the building of a “bus barn” which will allow us to keep all of our buses under cover.  Also, to work on selling the short bus.  Pray for these men as they work on these things.

Visited Terrell Brooks in the hospital this morning.  He is doing great.  Our visit was cut short as the doctor came in but Terrell looked good and sounded good.  Amazing.  Keep praying for Terrell & Marie.

Dale Ellerman will be traveling to Birmingham and back tomorrow for his pre-op stuff.  Pray for safe travels.

Jim Broadus’ sister passed from this life and that service will take place today.  Pray for the Young family.

Myrtle Bowden is having some tough days due to excessive pain.  Keep praying for Myrtle and Sammy.

There was a death in Gary Walton’s family.  He and Rachel “may” be traveling out West this week for the service.  Pray for this family and for Gary & Rachel.

Gayla Dyess is scheduled to have surgery this Wednesday.  Pray that all will go well.

Clinton Stringfellow will see his doctor this week and is scheduled to have a surgical procedure next Monday.  Keep praying for Clinton.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday – morning and evening.

Work day and garden planting day on Saturday, April 1.  Mark your calendars!

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

Yesterday, Nanette Fontenot sent me an email update on her father, Terrell Brooks.  The main point of her message was saying how powerful prayer is as Terrell was in really tough shape prior to his heart surgery.  Emergency surgery was necessary!  So, God answered the prayers of his people.  Marie, Nanette, Terry and family are thankful for the prayer support.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  I “think” Dede’s class is taking a break for a few weeks beginning tomorrow in order for our adult choir under the direction of Jeanette Bates to prepare for Easter Sunday morning.  Bill Kendrick’s class will continue to meet at 5:00PM.

Speaking of Easter Sunday 2023, we will have two services that day – 8:00AM and 10:00AM.  Nothing else.

The proposed 2023 budget will be presented for discussion in a meeting tomorrow beginning at 4:15PM.  A vote, with no further discussion, will take place in the evening service.

Best of luck to Auburn (5:10PM tip) and Alabama (8:40PM tip) today.  Both games will be televised on TBS.  War Eagle and Roll Tide!

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

Terrell Brooks had four heart by-passes yesterday afternoon.  He did well and is presently in CCU.  I so appreciate Marie staying touch with me and giving me updates.  Pray for Terrell as he goes through the recovery process.  Pray for Marie as she serves as his care giver.

Keep praying for Myrtle.  She is at home continuing her battle against a malignancy.  Pray for Sammy and family.

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow.  If nothing changes, he is scheduled to have a procedure done on his heart on Monday, 3/27.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 3/19.

A very huge “thank you” to Eddie Albritton for going above and beyond to help me last night.  What a great guy!

Congratulations to both Auburn and Alabama on their respective victories in the basketball tourney yesterday.  SEC, SEC, SEC!

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  Stay dry and be safe on the roads!

Terrell Brooks has been taken to surgery as the doctors found a blockage and decided a stent would not suffice to correct the problem.  The surgery is in progress now and will last several hours.  Pray for Terrell, Marie and the family.

Terrell Brooks has been admitted to the hospital.  He is scheduled to have a heart cath this morning and, if needed, a stent put in place.  Pray for Terrell and Marie.

Myrtle Bowden was discharged from the hospital yesterday – praise the Lord!  Keep praying for Myrtle, Sammy and family.

Continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow as he is scheduled for a surgical procedure later this month.

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

This entry is late!  Duh!  Long story and it is not interesting at all so let’s skip the details.

Myrtle Bowden was moved into a unit early this morning but is now back in a regular hospital room.  There is a possibility that she will get to come home tomorrow.  That is her hope!  Keep praying for Myrtle, Sammy and their family.

Ryan Hatcher’s surgery went well.  I actually was able to see him late yesterday afternoon and he was doing good thanks to the medicine.  Keep praying for Ryan.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

Go ahead and mark Saturday, April 1, on your calendar and make plans to be on our campus that day.  Details forthcoming.

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

Ryan Hatcher will undergo surgery on his back this morning.  Pray that all goes well.  If so, he will go home later today.

Myrtle Bowden has been admitted to the hospital.  I will visit her later today.  Keep praying for Myrtle as she is experiencing much pain.

Pastor Tim Cauley’s mother passed away last week.  The second visitation and the celebration of life service takes place today from the Forts Lake Assembly of God church building.  Pray for her husband, Bro. C. D. and the family during this time.  Bro. C.D. & Mrs Cauley were married for almost seventy-nine years.

Our women’s ministry will be giving away diapers and wipes tomorrow morning.

Really good day in our services yesterday.  We give God the glory!  I am very thankful for those who remembered the time change and were present for our services.

Special thanks to Blaine & Blake for coming to the aid of a damsel in distress yesterday afternoon.  Much appreciated.

Special thanks to Debbie Hyatt for the special food “treat” last night.  Good stuff!

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 3/15.

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

I sure hope that you have remembered that today is time change Sunday!  You should “spring forward” meaning you lost an hour during the night!  (Members of Congress and Mr. President, fix this!)

Myrtle Bowden is struggling right now.  Pray fervently for her, please.

Liz Whalen sent me a message yesterday.  She got a “best case scenario” from the doctor.  No chemo needed.  She and John are praising the Lord and are very thankful to everyone for the prayers.  Amen!

A huge “thank you” to John Milton Ladnier for using his tractor and planter yesterday to get most of our (Blake, Blaine & me) in the ground.  Hiring Blake & Blaine was about like losing four good men but at least they were here!  Again, thank you to John Milton for his continued kindnesses to me!

Also, a huge “thank you” to Gary Denbleyker for servicing my mower which I am not supposed to be driving – right!  The past two days have seen a bunch of grass mowed and weeds eaten!  I am blessed with really great neighbors!

The question I have been getting lately is, “how did your sleep study go?”  Got the results this past week which shows I have “mild” sleep apnea which means I am doing nothing regarding it.  Lisa and Daphne agree with me.  Deidra has sent me like a million links as to why I need a machine.  She needs to remember that she is not my mama!  As Lisa said, “it really does not matter what anyone else says, you are going to do what you want regardless!”  Well said!

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

I am going to go with the “late is better than never” theory here.  Sorry!

The priority prayer request for today is for Liz Whalen as she will see an oncologist this afternoon.  Praying for wisdom for all involved.  Pray for John & Liz.  What an awesome couple!

As it stands right now, Clinton Stringfellow is scheduled to have a procedure done on his heart on 3/27.  Keep praying for Clinton.

We had a really awesome day in our services yesterday.  Our morning attendance was strong and is increasing.  The evening folks need to step up their game – LOL!  Thank you Jesus!

Time change this Sunday, 3/12!  Spring forward!  Regular schedule on our campus.

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

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

Yancey Hall did well through his surgical procedure and should be discharged from the hospital today, if all goes as planned.  Keep praying for Yancey.

Joseph Davila also did well through his procedure yesterday morning and came home.  Pray for him in his recovery.

Brooke Whitehurst was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  All looks good per the doctor but that will not be a definite until the pathology report is returned.  Keep praying for Brooke as she recovers.

Bro. Abel visited with Bill Goff yesterday and learned that Bill has recently spent some time in the hospital.  He is back at the assisted living facility now and is doing much better.  Pray for Bill.

Liz Whalen will meet with an oncologist tomorrow.  Pray that visit goes well!

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow and the situation with his afib.

As always, continue to pray for Myrtle Bowden.

The number one question has been, “who are the twins helping with the garden?”  Some have believed that it is Dana & Gina.  Hello, that is way wrong.  Members of my family have never set foot in the garden!  These “two” twins are identical, are in our morning service each Sunday and have a mind to work.  Great young men!  I am in hopes that John Milton Ladnier is going to teach them a thing or two about gardening!

The second question has been, “how did your sleep study go?”  I have heard nothing official from the doctor but let me go ahead and predict a “F” as my grade.  Just saying!  I think that I did not study enough!

I continue to be impressed with Norman Richerson and his dedication to being the gym five days a week.  The man is almost eighty-nine years of age and does not miss a beat.  Impressive!  Great job, Norman.

Want to join us in Guatemala the dates of June 15 – 22, 2023?  Need to hear from you by tomorrow, 3/9, noon.

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

P.S. – Our blog readership has now dipped to nine.  Folks like Katie Tillman and Elizabeth Westbrook has forsaken me.  I call them Demas!  However, I am thankful for the Rex Looneys of this blog world!