Pastor's Blog

I have to be honest in telling you that I had some trouble going to sleep last night as I was excited for Samuel.  We serve a great God and I still stand amazed at His goodness!  Pray as we work out the details for his trip to the States.  God is good!

Carla Kyser did receive her treatment yesterday.  Keep praying for her and the others who are battling cancer.  Vera’s brother remains hospitalized. 

Bro. Jerry’s team is packed and ready to load.  They will meet at the church tomorrow morning bound for the airport.  Pray that this last day before departure will be a good one for them.  By the way, does anyone have a suitcase with wheels & a handle they could borrow?  They prefer something in a shade of blue but any color will do!  Call Bro. Jerry at 445 5414 if you can help. 

Back to last week, it is hard for me to believe that Sommer Brock is the only one who knew (or at least answered) the answer to the plug nickel question.  It is even harder for me to accept that a blonde (I mean real blonde) would know the answer.  She probably asked Cody!  Scholars such as Rex Looney, Michael Mason, Jack Ciak, & Jamie Glenn have let me down again.  Honestly, I thought Rex knew everything! 

We are on track for a regular Wednesday with the morning service and evening activities.  The 8:00PM crew will meet at Soy & Deidra’s house.  It’s great as we pull the thermostat down to about 58 and just chill! 

Speaking of thermostats, thanks to Doug Cordelle for taking the time to repair one of the ac units in the CAB yesterday.  Earl Gunter did likewise on the short bus last week.  Thank God for folks who will serve Him however and whenever.  We are blessed with a lot of folks like that! 

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

Samuel Acan is coming to the USA – glory to God!  I just got word that the lady at the Embassy approved his request and granted him a visa.  I don’t know the details but do know that God answered your prayers!  Hallelujah!  They say Samuel is grinning from ear to ear and can’t stop singing!  Awesome stuff! 

I appreciate Bro. Johnny Tucker going with Samuel and Soy getting them there on time and safely.   Thanks to Louise Mason for all of her help in the application process.  Thanks to Senator Jeff Sessions office and their help.  Thanks to everyone who helped, prayed, et cetera! 

However, all of the glory goes to God!  We recognize this is a total God thing and we don’t take that for granted.  God is good and we give Him the praise!!!

Just heard from Soy again.  Bro. Johnny went inside the Embassy and they said Samuel would need an official document proving his appointment time in order to be allowed in immediately.  He doesn’t have such a document.  The good news is that the line is moving fairly quickly and Samuel is almost inside the building.  So, keep praying! 

It is 3:00PM Central Time and Soy just called to give me an update.  Samuel arrived around 1:00PM for his 1:30PM appointment only to find a line with a couple of hundred folks trying to get into the Embassy.  It is moving at a snail’s pace.  Bro. Johnny is going to try and get inside to ask if they have to remain in that line or if Samuel’s appointment puts him in a different place.  It seems everyone in line had a 1:30PM appointment.  Keep praying!  Thanks!  God is in control!

Marisa Felps left me a voice mail yesterday afternoon asking us to pray for Carla Kyser as she has an appointment with the doctor today.  She is supposed to receive another treatment but that doesn’t always happen as scheduled.  Pray!

Vera Bosarge sent a request from Colorado asking us to continue to pray for her brother, Mose.  He remains hospitalized and is losing blood internally.  David’s mother, Maxine Rogers, is home and doing well. 

The arrangements for Don Loveless are as follows:  visitation tomorrow night, 7/15, from 6:00 – 9:00PM.  The service will take place on Thursday, 7/16, at 10:00AM.  The visitation and service will take place at the Holder Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS. 

Bro. Jerry’s team is in the countdown mode now as they are schedule to leave for Guatemala on Thursday, 7/16.  They will have a packing party tonight beginning at 6:00PM. 

Bro. Johnny’s team is finishing up their week of ministry so pray that they will have a strong final two days. 

Keep praying for the Fab Five (Brandon, Pam, Alisha, Soy & Deidra) as they have a little over two weeks left in their summer ministry. 

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.”  (Jeremiah 33:3)

My only focus in this post is to ask you to join me in praying for Samuel Acan as he appears before the US Embassy representative today.  Pray the he will be granted his visa.  I appreciate Bro. Johnny Tucker going with him and Soy driving them.  His appointment time is 1:30PM (Guatemala time) and I should be able to post the results here by 3:30 – 4:00PM Central time.  Pray!

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine anger is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”  (Psalm 39:5)

We enjoyed a blessed day yesterday in all of our services.  Miracle of miracles, we actually had folks show up for the 8:00AM to hear me preach all the while knowing that Shaun Alexander would be speaking in the 10:30AM service.  What a blessing to see four folks accept Jesus as their personal Savior during the 10:30AM service.  God is good and we give Him the glory!

My first impression of Shaun & Valerie Alexander is a very good one!  He is doing a good work for the Lord!  I appreciate him being willing to come to Friendship to share with us.  Thanks to Coach Ronnie Cottrell and Chris Taylor for arranging everything.  Thanks to Lisa & Ann for preparing the meal. 

The Friendship family now has a budget in place for the 8/1/09 – 7/31/10 fiscal year.  Thanks to the members of the Finance Committee for their diligent work and thanks to those who came to the discussion meeting. 

John Meredith, Jerry Whitmore, & Raymond Wilkinson were elected to serve as deacons for three years beginning 8/1/09 and ending 7/31/12.  I appreciate all six men who were nominated and look forward to what God is going to do in the years ahead. 

We delayed affirming the work of the Nominating Committee until this Wednesday, 7/15. 

Vera Bosarge’s brother, Mose Vesper, is hospitalized.  Miss Joyce Bosarge is still having pain.  Gerald Poiroux was in our service last night.  Miss Lillian Brinkman is finished with her physical therapy but is still having problems.  Don Loveless passed away Saturday night but I don’t know those arrangments.  Pray for these folks. 

Tomorrow is a big day for GRACE Ministries and Samuel Acan.  Bro. Johnny Tucker will take him to the US Embassy in Guatemala City for an appointment to receive his travel visa.  I ask you pray especially at 1:30PM (Guatemala time) tomorrow.  We are asking God to allow Samuel to receive his visa.  I appreciate those who have helped in this process thus far and those who are praying!  I will post here once I know the results tomorrow. 

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

Rodney Fields, from Moulton, AL, and a member of Danville Baptist Church entered heaven yesterday morning after a long battle with cancer.  He was 41 years old.  The visitation with the family will be tonight and the funeral service tomorrow afternoon.  Pray for Rodney’s family during this time of sorrow. 

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  (Matthew 7:13-14)

This Sunday, 7/12, is going to be a busy and important day in the life of the Friendship family.  First, we will host Shaun & Valerie Alexander in our 10:30AM service.  I am hearing that we are going to have a nice crowd for that service.  I encourage folks to attend! 

Second, our Finance Committee has completed their work on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.  Copies will be available following the morning services and a discussion meeting will take place at 4:00PM.  This will be the time to amend or change the proposed budget.  A vote will then be taken on the proposed budget during the evening service with no further discussion. 

Third, our Nominating Committee will present their initial report on Sunday evening for the church’s affirmation. 

Fourth, six men have been nominated to serve as a deacon for the next three years and the Friendship family will elect three of those men this Sunday evening.  Pray and come vote as the Lord leads.  These six men understand that being elected means fulfilling the obligation to the Lord and the church family to serve for three years. 

One of our Fab Five has taken sick.  Please pray for Pam Baker as she spent yesterday in the bed.  I don’t think she is near unto death but she does need our prayers.  JoNell Barnes did well through her surgery yesterday but keep praying for her. 

Bro. Johnny’s team arrived at the mission house yesterday afternoon safe and sound.  I assume the West Mobile folks arrived home safely as well.  Pray for the IMA team as they minister this week. 

This Sunday, 7/12, marks 29 years of marriage for Lisa & me.  I am a blessed man! 

Jack Bailey, Jack Ciak, Michael Mason, et cetera are all the same – they never update their respective blogs/journals.  I really don’t understand why they are charging Jack Bailey for his blogs because they aren’t worth a plug nickel!  (Does anyone out there even know what a plug nickel is?)  Rumor has it that Jack Bailey is seriously considering moving to Ohio! 

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

“….for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” (Hosea 14:9)

Wednesday was good!  It felt really good to be back at Soy & Deidra’s house for our 8:00PM Bible study.  We had a house full.  Many thanks to my wife, Lisa, and Melissa Brown for taking care of the food. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good day in all of our worship services.  I so appreciate the folks who attend church on Wednesdays! 

JoNell Barnes is having surgery this morning.  Cameron Watson came home.  Phil Sims may have a staph infection.  Joyce Bosarge is taking radiation treatments on her shoulder.  Max Peacock got a good report yesterday.  Keep praying for all of the folks battling cancer. 

The women’s ministry will host a meeting tonight at 6:30PM in th fellowship hall.  All ladies are cordially invited to attend! 

Pray that Samuel Acan will receive favor with the US Embassy officials next Tuesday, 7/14, and receive his visa to travel to the United States.  Bro. Johnny Tucker will go with him to the Embassy – that could be a mistake! 

Speaking of Bro. Johnny, his team left for Guatemala this morning as the West Mobile Baptist team is returning home today.  We have had a good summer thus far.  Keep praying for Louise & the fab five. 

Spread the word about Shaun Alexander being in our 10:30AM service this Sunday, 7/12.  Pray that we will have an anointed service. 

Mark the date of Sunday evening, 8/2, on your calendar and make plans to be present at 5:00PM for a special service.  Pastor Mel Hacker will be preaching at 5:00PM and Pastor Bob Harvey will be preaching at 6:00PM.  April McNiel & Jaclyn Weaver will be leading our musical worship in both of those services.  I believe this is going to be an awesome evening! 

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