Pastor's Blog

I received an e-mail from Focus On The Family today asking me to sign a petition stating that “I Stand For Christmas!”  It will be sent to some major retailers who have refused to acknowledge Christmas in their stores, catalogs, advertisements, et cetera.  Focus On The Family hopes to have 100,000 signatures by tomorrow night and the total was at 89,000 when I signed. 

So, I encourage you to visit their website (www.focusonthefamily.com) and click on the “I Stand For Christmas” icon.  Please consider alerting others with e-mail access to do the same. 

I also encourage you to check out the retailers who have, thus far, refused to cooperate with the requests made by Focus On The Family.  You may want to consider whether to give these stores your business during this Christmas season since they don’t acknowledge Christmas. 

Merry Christmas!

Raymond Wilkinson’s father, Curtis Wilkinson, passed away this morning.  He was at home at the time of his passing.  Obviously, the family is in a state of shock so no discussion has taken place regarding arrangements.  I will post them on this site once they are finalized.  Pray for the Wilkinson family during their time of sorrow. 

Please pray for Carla Felps Kyser today as she meets with the doctors regarding her latest scans.  Shea Childress, Joyce Bosarge, & Phyllis Bush need our prayers too.  Bro. Johnny Tucker awaits his doctor’s appointment on Monday. 

Shirley Hill took a fall and injured her knee last week.  She is scheduled for surgery this afternoon but her potassium is low so that could postpone the surgery.  Pray for Shirley.

It is my understanding that Teresa Lara was to have had her surgery yesterday morning.  Louise Mason has written that everything seemed to go well and Teresa should go home tomorrow. 

Derrick & Jodie Wilkerson continue to be on an emotional roller coaster regarding the possible adoption of the baby they have had in their foster care since last May.  It appears he could be taken from them in the near future.  Pray for them and this situation. 

Terry Stephan, Breck Ladd, and Breck’s son will be traveling to Guatemala today to spend some time meeting with pastors to discuss upcoming ministries opportunities.  Terry is the missions coordinator at Dauphin Way Baptist while Breck is the Executive Pastor.  Pray for their week.

Anyone interested in a ski trip in February needs to contact me via e-mail immediately or sooner!  If there are folks from other churches with an interest in joining this trip they need to contact me for the details. 

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

*A comment posted on 12/4 just came up today, 12/8.  You may want to consider going back and reading it. 

The Lord blessed and we had a wonderful weekend.  The children’s choir did a very nice job of sharing the Gospel through their musical last night.  I appreciate Kathy Wadkins and all of the adults who work with the children’s choir.  Parents, I encourage you to involve your 1st – 5th graders in children’s choir beginning in January. 

Our first weekend of Upward basketball league play seemed to go well too.  Games will be played this Saturday, 12/13, and then we will break until January 3, 2009. 

Our Junior High RA basketball team also began play this past Saturday and our 5th-6th grade teams begins play this Saturday.  Pray for our Upward ministry and our RA ministry. 

Carla Kyser gets her scan results tomorrow.  Phyllis Bush continues to be at home as she battles her cancer.  Joyce Bosarge is some better in her battle with cancer.  Larry Thompson will have hip replacement surgery one week from today.  Bro. Johnny Tucker goes back to the doctor next Monday.  Pray for these folks and all of those who are battling their respective afflictions/sicknesses.

Our annual “Widow’s Nite” takes place this Thursday, 12/11, beginning at 6:30PM.  Our deacons & their wives will host this night of ministry with an assist from the staff.  Pray that this will be a night of encouragement for these widows and widowers. 

Chris Taylor, Minister to Students, graduated from USA this past Saturday so congratulations are in order to him. 

The Alabama football team lost this past Saturday for the first time this football season.  I don’t keep up with it that closely but I do appreciate my friends from Michigan, Canada, & Guatemala who e-mailed or called in support of the Tide. 

I want to go on record as saying that I will be pulling for Tim Tebow, the Florida Gators, and the SEC on 1/8/09.  However, I also want to predict that the OU Sooners will win that game.  Kevin Wadkins will owe me big time after that game! 

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

We had a good Wednesday as God blessed our various services, Bible studies, and classes.  It seemed that our attendance in the auditorium was down some which is surprising to me since it is Christmas.  Isn’t Christmas about celebrating Jesus? 

I spoke to Miss Carmen Reyer late yesterday afternoon and she is doing very well in her recovery from knee replacement surgery.  Keep praying for her!

Ralph & Don Rimmer’s paternal grandmother passed away Monday.  The visitation will take place tonight and the funeral service will be held tomorrow.  I do not have the specific details but do ask that you pray for the Rimmer family.

Our Upward season begins tonight with the first game beginning at 6:00PM.  I ask you to pray for Bro. Benny and all involved in this ministry. 

I continue to be “surprised” at our society.  Coach Tuberville’s firing yesterday afternoon amazes me!  Of course, I don’t feel “sorry” for anyone receiving a six million dollars bonus for being fired!  We live in a society that doesn’t remember what you have done for me but one that asks what are you going to do for me right now?  The days of appreciation and thankfulness seem to be history!  To me, that’s sad!   

Speaking of football, if Tim Tebow is reading this post – I feel that he may should consider a three day “fast” from the sport and that fast should begin this Friday and end Sunday!  I am a Tim Tebow fan but. . .

Anyone interested in a possible skiing trip needs to contact me via e-mail – yesterday! 

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

Good Wednesday morning!  The Lord has blessed and we have been enjoying some cooler weather which I find nice since it is late Fall! 

I like the cold weather and I do like to snow ski (or downhill ski as my Canadian friends call it).  The airfares to the western States are much more affordable now so anyone interested in a possible trip to Colorado early next year needs to contact me via e-mail immediately.  I don’t know how long these low fares will be available. 

Carla Kyser did not receive her chemotherapy treatment yesterday as she was having some pain in one of her arms.  The doctor will do a scan to see why so please keep praying for her. 

Jennifer Brown works in the office with my wife, Lisa, and she was involved in an automobile accident last night at the intersection of Saeger Road & Potter Tract Road.  I know she was taken to the emergency road but do not know if they kept her.  Pray for Jennifer.

Today will be a regular Wednesday for us with the 10:00AM service followed by the evening activities.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in attendance at our various Bible studies and classes. 

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

I intentionally was waiting until later to post today but almost completely forgot about it!  Sorry about that! 

I wanted to speak with Bro. Johnny Tucker to get an update after his visit to the doctor yesterday.  One of the broken leg bones had slipped out of place which meant the doctor had to remove the cast and put a new one on after setting the bone back in place.  Translated – another two weeks of no activity for Bro. Johnny with the foot elevated above the heart.  If the bone is still not responding correctly after the 12/15 visit, surgery is most likely to be required.   

I ask that you continue to pray for our Upward ministry as the games begin Thursday night.  Pray for Bro. Benny, the coaches, the players, those who will give halftime devotions, et cetera. 

Remember, we are having all of our regular services for the first three Sundays/Wednesdays in December with the exception of no Discipleship Training or AWANA ministry.  So that is morning and evening on Wednesdays.  The Sunday schedule is worship at 8:00AM, 10:30AM, & 6:00PM with Sunday School at 9:15AM.  I pray that we will be faithful! 

Lottie Moon is one of my heroes!  I pray that we will be obedient in giving to the offering that bears her name as we support our IMB missionaries! 

Has anyone seen Kim French?  It is odd that she has apparently “disappeared” from the scene! 

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

Christmas is closer than you think!  Wow, December is now upon us and we will soon (Lord willing) be into 2009.  I must be having fun because time is flying! 

The Lord blessed and we had a good Thanksgiving weekend in our services.  The attendance was good and I appreciate those who were present for the various services.  I thought Tony Hacker did a nice job of sharing about our most recent GRACE trip. 

Our annual Widow’s Nite will take place on Thursday, 12/11.  This evening is hosted by our staff members, deacons, and their wives.  Any widow/widower who did not sign up for this evening needs to call the church office today, 12/1. 

Our Upward basketball season begins this Thursday evening.  I appreciate Bro. Benny and those who have helped him get ready for this new season.  Pray for our Upward ministry. 

Bro. Johnny Tucker sees the doctor today regarding his broken leg/ankle.  Pray that he will not need surgery. 

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

Good morning from Hartselle, Alabama.  My family (minus Michael & Deidra) and I are celebrating Thanksgiving Day with my parents, Lisa’s parents, and all of my extended family (minus my brother Eddie who is in China).  We will go to Birmingham this afternoon so we can shop, shop, shop and then shop some more!  (I am so excited!)  We will attend a certain football game Saturday afternoon before heading home!

Lord willing, I hope to see each of you in our services this Sunday morning.  I pray that you will have a great day with Jesus.

I would ask you to pray for Miss Carmen Reyer today as she is having knee replacement surgery this morning.  This knee has been a source of much pain and discomfort for Miss Carmen so hopefully this will take care of her problem. 

Bro. Jerry e-mailed me to say that Marion Hatchett is not going to have surgery due to an infection.  He also said that Miss JoNell Barnes had an aunt to pass away in Texas.  Pray for these situations.

Today is a regular Wednesday with our morning service and the evening activities.  I encourage all members of the Friendship family to be in their rightful place. 

If you are interested in the GRACE trip happenings then go to the GRACE blog. 

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