Pastor's Blog

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also the the Greek.”  (Romans 1:16)

The “Foundation”has come to a close and it has been a good four nights of worship and time in the Word with Pastor Terry Rainey.  I don’t know the exact numbers but we have averaged somewhere around 75 students in each service with a good number of adults joining them nightly.  Thanks to Bro. Chris, Bro. Dale, the praise band, and each person who helped in any way with this week of ministry.  As always, Pastor Rainey was a blessing and used by the Lord to speak to our hearts.  We give God the glory for what He has done in our lives this week.

Today is the final day of our VBS ’09 and it has been a good one.  Again, I don’t know the numbers but I do get the sense that the rotation system has worked well.  Bro. Jerry & Miss Myrtle are to be commended for leading our VBS.  I say “thank you” to each worker and to each person who helped in any way.  Don’t forget – our family night takes place this Sunday at 5:00PM.

I am playing Mr. Mom this weekend.  I sent Lisa to Guatemala yesterday afternoon to check up on the Fab Five!  They had mechanical failure in Houston so it delayed her getting to the mission house until around 1:15AM.  I owe John King big time for meeting Lisa at the airport.  The real reason for Lisa’s trip was to surprise Deidra for her 27th birthday – mission accomplished!  They will enjoy this time of fellowship capped with a birthday cake cooked by Diane Bryant.  Soy can thank me later for sending his mother-in-law 2,500 miles to visit him!  By the way, this Mr. Mom stuff is so overrated as I simply sent Dana & Gina to Brad & Daphne’s last night! 

Can someone please tell Pastor Jack Bailey that his man, Dwight “I ain’t got no tattoos” Howard, has one now – the one Kobe stamped on his forehead last night!  LOL!  Go Lakers!

I pray that you will have a great weekend.  Go to church.  Gotta get Pastor Terry to the airport. 

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”  (Proverbs 4:7)

James writes that if any of us lack wisdom that we are to ask God and He will give it to us in a gracious supply.  Too many times I find myself operating within the confines of my own “wisdom” and that is not a good thing.  The Bible speaks warns us to not be wise in our own eyes but to fear the Lord.  May we walk using His wisdom today! 

JB Kelley did well through his surgery yesterday.  The real answer will come next week when they remove the patch from his eye.  Keep praying for him.  It has been a few days since I mentioned the folks from the Friendship family who are battling cancer but that does not lessen our need to keep praying for them.  Liz told me yesterday that her mother, Joyce Bosarge, had been having some rough days.  Keep praying for these folks.  Mary Cook sent an e-mail yesterday afternoon asking us to pray for her first cousin who was involved in an accident.  Sonni Eyler continues to recover from her heel surgery and JB Miller remains hospitalized.  Pray for all of these folks. 

Today is our evangelism day in VBS.  Pray for Bro. Jerry, Bro. Chris, and me as we will be sharing this morning beginning around 9:20AM.  Pray the we will faithfully plant the seed and perhaps we will be reaping fruit from seeds already sown. 

It was a neat thing to see the lower level of the auditorium almost filled last night as Pastor Rainey shared the Word with us.  IMO, the Foundation has gone well.  Pray for the final service tonight. 

The Faith of Bartlett folks go home from Guatemala today.  They have had a good week.  I spoke to Ryan Johnston via the phone last night and scolded him for not blogging – he basically just laughed about how he was going to have it under control this year and it had been crazy.  You really have to be a team leader to understand!  I thank God for Faith Baptist and their involvement/partnership with GRACE Ministries.  We are blessed!  By the way, Foothills Fellowship from Arkansas arrives at the mission house this Saturday.  The Fab Five are doing great too so keep praying for them.   BTW, Deidra blogged last night. 

Costa Rica blasted the USA in the World Cup qualifier last night.  Following that loss, I had trouble sleeping last night.  Michael Bradley got a yellow card in the 54th minute which means he is now suspended for a game.  I sure hope the US can beat Honduras in their next game.  I only wished they televised high school girl’s soccer games! 

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

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Pastor Terry spoke last night about our “trying hard” to live the Christian life.  That is us “leaning unto our own understanding” instead of trusting the Lord.  Ever been there?  Me too!   Lord, help me to more fully trust You! 

JB Kelley will have surgery on his eye today.  Pray for him as he is technically blind in his other eye so this surgery is important. 

Bill Goff’s surgery went well.  Miss Jackie claims his eye is black because of the surgery but those of us who know her know. . . . LOL!  Edna says that Sonni continues to be in a lot (my high school English teacher always cringed when one used the words a lot) of pain.  Pray for Sonni.  Evangelist David Miller’s brother, JB Miller suffered a severe stroke and is in an intensive care unit of a local hospital.  Of course, David & JB are Edna Holifield’s first cousins.  David is here with his brother so pray for the Miller family. 

Kathy Wadkins pulled a ligament in her back but that is basically something that happened due to her old age!  Personally, I think she is “milking it” to get Kevin to wait on her hand & foot!  Pray for Kevin!

Deidra posted an entry in the GRACE blog section last night.  Alisha & Pam arrived safely.  The rains have arrived in full force.  The Memphis folks are doing well although Ryan never updates his blog!  (He reminds me of Bret Hart & Donald Pennell)

We will not have our regular service this morning.  Also, our evening service will be in the auditorium from 6:00 – 8:00PM.  Pastor Terry should begin preaching/teaching around 7:00PM and everyone is invited to join us for that time in the Word. 

Our second day of VBS went very well.  We have had a few glitches during the first two days but Bro. Jerry & Miss Myrtle are doing a great job of adjusting on the fly.  I don’t have the exact numbers but we are somewhere in the 400 range as far as our attendance goes for these first two days. 

Wow, Pastor Jack Bailey used an entire blog entry to “vent” on me yesterday.  Can I help it that the Lakers are the most dominant team in professional sports and that Kobe is perhaps the greatest player of all time?  Yes, I too like Dwight Howard as I have already stated but the facts are the facts!  I was only joking when I said there were only two Celtics fans as I know Reb Nevin & Ethan McGath are in that number as well.  Now that Rex Looney knows that Miss June Bailey is a Celtics fan, he will probably join that club too.  Go Lakers! 

My bigger concern right now is that the Red Wings lost last night.  Also, I would have loved to have seen the SEC win the softball championship but I didn’t cry when the Florida Gatorettes got beat! (Sorry Amanda, the Bradleys, & traitor Sam!) 

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

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5)

I believe Bill Goff had outpatient surgery yesterday.  I will get an update today.  Pray for him.   

Our VBS got off to a really good start yesterday morning and continued with The Foundation last night.  The new “rotation” style seemed to go well.  We hit a couple of bumps with the end of the day rally but those can be corrected.  Pastor Rainey did a nice job with our students last night.  We are looking forward to a great week! 

Pam Landry Baker and Alisha Vice are scheduled to leave this morning bound for Guatemala.  If all goes well, they should arrive shortly before noon our time.  Pray for traveling mercies.  Deidra had an uneventful trip yesterday and we are thankful to the Lord for His protection.  So, our summer staff will be at full force beginning today.  Pray for all five of them as they minister alongside GRACE Ministries over these next eight weeks. 

Plans call for Deidra to begin keeping the GRACE blog updated.  Take a peek each day to see if she has posted anything new.  It may actually be Alisha or Pam but hopefully we will get regular updates on what is  happening with the Fab Five! 

My pastor friend, Jack Bailey, basically threw me under the bus in his post yesterday.  First, he put me in a category with Pastor Michael Mason – I am not worthy of such lofty status!  Second, he made some irreverent comments about the Lakers!  Celtic fans (both of them – Jack & Bruce) can be so jealous! 

The sad part is that all I have ever wanted in life is to be like Jack Bailey – I just don’t want to have someone like Hope for a daughter!  LOL!  I am wounded but will recover!

Forget the Lakers until Thursday night – how about those Red Wings!  Tim Mast and I are pretty excited! 

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

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 150)

God, and God alone, is worthy of our praise!  Take some time today just to praise Him for who He is and for all that He has done in your life!  God is great! 

We had a good day yesterday in our services.  Yes, the service last night was different but it was good!  Our VBS mission offering got a nice beginning boost.  Our missionaries this year are Jack & Carolyn Ciak from Guatemala.  They have been a blessing to Friendship Baptist & GRACE Ministries over the past four years and we are excited to be supporting them with this offering. 

VBS – those three letters bring joy to the hearts of some and strike fear in the hearts of others!  Depends on your perspective!  We begin at 9:00AM today and end the morning session at noon.  Our 6th – 12th grade students will meet from 6:00 – 8:00PM with Pastor Terry Rainey being the guest preacher.  Pray for our VBS. 

Nicole Taylor gave a good report on our AWANA ministry that concluded last night and will begin again in September.  What a blessing to hear the number of Bible verses those boys & girls learned over the course of the year.  Hannah Brock did a great job of reciting the books of the Bible.  Thanks to all who helped with the AWANA ministry this year! 

Mechanical problems on the plane in Mobile caused Alisha & Deidra to be delayed in their attempt to get to Guatemala.  (Soy & Brandon are having to work extra hard to make up for their absence)  Deidra will fly out this morning as she begins teaching a class at the seminary tomorrow morning.  Alisha will wait and join Pam Landry on a flight in the morning.  It is all good! 

The team presently in Guatemala is from Faith Baptist of Bartlett and is being led by Ryan Johnston.  They are blogging at www.teamguatemala2009.blogspot.com. 

My conspiracy theory has been blown out of the water!  I was sure that it was going to be the Cavs versus the Lakers in the NBA Finals even though the Cavs were down 3-1 to the Magic.  I had it all tied to the Kennedy assassination, global warming, and a few other things but now I will have to come up with a new theory.  Go Lakers!  (I am a Dwight Howard fan!)

Gotta get Deidra to the airport.  I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus! 

“It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, when He overturns them in His anger; Who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;”  (Job 9:5-6)

Around 2:30AM yesterday morning I was up beginning to get ready for the trip home when I thought I felt “dizzy” only to quickly realize the house was moving due to an earthquake.  It was a strong enough movement to awaken Soy (which is no small feat in itself).  Paul would call to tell me it registered 7.1 on the Richter scale and Mike Clark reported that it lasted for forty-five seconds.  Of course, the center of the quake was many miles away but it is something to experience even being on the outer perimeter.  As I was coming home, I couldn’t help but think of how powerful God is.  He can shake the earth – wow! 

We did arrive home from Guatemala safe & sound and I am very thankful to God for traveling mercies.  I was actually through customs in Houston in twenty minutes which is a blessing too. 

Word came to me yesterday afternoon that Brandon has been resurrected from the sick bed and was mowing the lawn at the mission house.  The team from Faith Baptist of Bartlett arrived and they are beginning their ministry today.  Pray for them. 

Lindsey Hatcher will be become Mrs. Timothy Wayne Vice, Jr. tomorrow night.  The wedding ceremony begins at 6:00PM and you are cordially invited to attend the ceremony and the reception that follows.  Lindsey certainly chased TJ long enough so I am glad that she finally got her man!  LOL!

The visitation with the Herston family will take place tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM and the service will be held tomorrow at 10:00AM.  Everything will take place at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  Please continue to pray for the Herston family.

Deidra & Alisha will leave Sunday afternoon for their eight weeks in Guatemala.  Pam will follow suit on Tuesday.  Pray for these three young ladies along with Brandon & Soy as they work alongside GRACE Ministries this summer. 

Our Vacation Bible School begins on Monday morning at 9:00AM.  We are going to have a “rally” on Sunday night to begin the week.  Pastor Terry Rainey will be here to minister to our 6th – 12th grade students Monday – Thursday nights (6:00 – 8:00PM).  It is going to be an awesome week.  Pray without ceasing!

The Cavs won last night which continues to fuel my belief that ultimately the Finals will be between the Cavs & Lakers.  It is driven by television and the advertising dollar.  I don’t like the Celtics! 

I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus.  Go to church!  Be careful if you want to have a home Bible study or display the American flag in your office – wow! 

“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich.” (Proverbs 28:6)

“He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.”  (Proverbs 28:27)

As many of you know, I have been in Guatemala since Monday afternoon.  I came to take care of some business for GRACE Ministries including meeting with our lawyer.  I will not bore you with the details but suffice it to say that it has been a good and productive trip. 

Brandon Baker & Soy Taylor came with me and are settling in for nine weeks of ministry.  I have felt sorry for Brandon today as he has been one sick puppy!  Believe you me when I say that he can’t afford to lose any weight as he is 6’6″ tall and weighs about 75 pounds!  He has had a great attitude and I really believe he just misses Pamela!  These men will be joined by their wives and Alisha Vice in a few days – if only Rita were coming it would be perfect!  LOL! 

Gene Davis from Texas joined me for these few days too.  Gene loves to come to Guatemala and I was concerned yesterday that he might have to go home yesterday due to Gena’s hospitalization.  She told him not to come home – if you know Gene then you understand why Gena made that request!  LOL again!  By the way, Gena did well through her procedure and will go home today. 

I haven’t gotten any new updates on anyone from the Friendship family so I assume no news is good news.

T. Garrett Wright’s paternal grandfather passed away.  I don’t know the details but do ask that you pray for the Wright family.   

Our first team of the summer arrived this afternoon – at least part of that team.  Ryan Johnston and a group of folks from Faith Baptist of Bartlett, TN (it just kills me to write those initials) will be joined by the rest of their team tomorrow.  That will mean a team in the misson house for the next ten consecutive weeks or 71 of the next 74 days.  Praise the Lord! 

Ross Genzink is overrated!  The water heater in this apartment has not been working this week due to a bad thermocouple.  Ryan Johnston brought one from Memphis (thanks Bret Hart!) and I installed it last night and I am looking forward to a hot shower this morning! 

Life is good as the Lakers won again last night.  I think the NBA commish took my letter seriously! 

Pray for Gene & me as we travel home today.  It was a very short night and will be a fairly long day. 

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

“Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.”  (Proverbs 27:1 NASB)

Have ever talked about what you are going to do tomorrow?  I have.  I am 49 years old and plan on living a long time.  However, I am increasingly aware of the fact that my life may end before today’s sun sets.  Wow!The challenge is to live each day in view of eternity instead of living for the temporal. 

Rob Nevin’s mother, Barbara, did well through her procedures.  She had a stent placed in her aorta and one placed in her kidneys.  She may have gone home yesterday or will go home today. 

Gena Davis had a problem with her heart yesterday morning while doing ministry with her church at the local convalscent home.  She is in an Austin, Texas hospital and they are doing some type procedure today to correct her problem. 

As far as I know, Whitney Bryant came home from the hospital yesterday. 

It now appears that the visitation for Bob Herston’s family will take place Friday night with a Saturday morning funeral service.  Again, I don’t think that has been totally confirmed.  If so, it will all take place at Serenity Funeral Home.  Pray for the Herston family.

Can you believe the Magic are up 3-1 on the Cavs?  Personally, I think the Cavs will come back and win the series.  However, were it not for “the shot” it would already be over in four.  I was certain the powers that be would see to it that LeBron would be in the Finals.  Television would much rather have a Lakers/Cavs Finals versus a Magic/Nuggets Finals.  Duh! 

Today is a normal day at Friendship with the morning service and the evening activities.  The only change is that our 8:00PM young professionals/college Bible study will take place in the student building. 

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

“A soft tongue breaketh the bone,” (Proverbs 25:15)  The Amplified Bible translates that verse as “soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance.”

Is your speech soft?  Why does Solomon have to preach on the tongue so much?  Couldn’t he just stick to picture shows, dancing and whiskey?  James writes that no man can tame the tongue!  I think we would all do well to be careful little tongue what we say!  Is it true?  Is it kind?  Is it necessary? 

Memorial Day ’09!  I thank God for those who have given their lives to insure our freedoms as Americans.  Take time today to stop and reflect on their sacrifice!  While you are at it – reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus which allows us to have true freedom! 

Vance & Pat Stockman did a good job of leading us in worship last night.  What a testimony!  Willie Johnson & crew (crawfish), Sonny Hanson & crew (ribs), and Sherry Lavelle & crew (hostess committee) all did an excellent job of feeding us yesterday afternoon.  Good food & good fellowship!  Thanks to all who helped!

Whitney Bryant is having a surgical procedure done on her heart this morning.  Rob Nevin’s mother, Barbara, is having a stent placed in an artery today too.  Sonni Eyler is recovering from her surgery of Friday.  Pray for these folks!  It was good to see Dawn Autin in our service last night. 

Kathy Wadkins & Jan Cummings have a cousin, Terri Webber, who is 30 years old and the doctors have diagnosed her with cancer.  Pray for her as they map out a plan of treatment. 

We did it!  Lisa and I flew to Wisconsin on Friday night to surprise Mark & Tina Mast at the wedding of their son, Jon, & Precious Wynn.  What an absolutely wonderful wedding ceremony!  Very Jesus exalting!  Thank God that Delta got us back in a timely fashion on Saturday night.  We got to see Don & Lou Ricci, Erin Olsen, & Kelsey Quibell from Canada too so we were really blessed!  Mark & Tina are dear friends and we were honored to be invited to the wedding. 

Folks, Pastor Jack Bailey is going to put me out of the blogging business.  You need to read his entries! 

Brandon Baker & Michael Taylor left early this morning as the first of our five missionaries who will serve with GRACE Ministries this summer.  Deidra Taylor & Alisha Vice will leave this Sunday, 5/31, and Pam Baker leaves on Tuesday, June 2.  Pray for these young adults as they minister in Guatemala this summer. 

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

This a first for me – being connected to the internet while flying at 30,000 feet on a Delta jet – wow!  So, this is truly news from above!

Rob Nevin’s mother, Barbara, had a heart cath done today.  The artery from her kidneys to her heart is completely blocked.  Pray for her!  Sonni Eyler was in surgery when I left Mobile today.  Pray for her too.

My pastor friend, Jack Bailey, is now an official blogger.