Pastor's Blog

Earl Kirschenman had a defibrillator placed in his heart yesterday and did well with the exception of some excessive bleeding.  Nicholas Hacker & Helen Pugh were supposed to go home but I don’t know for certain that they did.  Ray Trehern, Miss Kittie’s brother, was discharged from the hospital.  Danielle Julian is supposed to go home today. 

Vera Bosarge’s brother, David Vesper, has been re-admitted to the hospital.  Betty Creech has some friends, the Chism’s, and Mr. Chism was involved in an automobile accident last night.  I don’t know the details but do ask that you pray for him.  Continue to pray for those affected by the hurricane.

I am excited about our AWANA ministry beginning this Sunday afternoon, 9/7, at 4:30PM.  Pray for this ministry.  Thanks to all who are helping! 

I want to remind the members of the Friendship family that we have extended the sign up for our summer ’09 GRACE trips through this Sunday, 9/7.  The Lord and has blessed and, as it presently stands, we have 17 teams signed up for 2009 and our summer is absolutely filled with teams. 

I also want to tell our friends in Michigan who read this blog (that would be two folks) that we will be hosting our annual GRACE Ministries pig roast fellowship on Tuesday, October 21, at the Vriesland Reformed Church.  We would love for you to join us and bring a friend or two.  Pass the word!

It is approaching 4:30AM and Lisa has already come in to ask me why I am not cutting grass so I had better go get with the program.  It will be a bit hard for me today as I reflect on the “old ball coach” and his team getting beat by Vandy last night! 

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  I hope that you will go to church this Sunday!

The Lord blessed and we had a good Wednesday in our respective Bible studies and services.  Thanks to all of those who took part! 

Earl Kirschenman is having a defibrillator placed in heart this morning.  Nicholas Hacker had to have an emergency appendectomy yesterday afternoon but should come home from the hospital this morning.  Helen Pugh, Melissa Brown’s grandmother, did well through her surgery and could come home today too.  Danielle Julian gave birth to a 9 lbs 8 oz boy yesterday morning.  Ray Trehern, Kittie Camp’s brother, is in a local hospital.  Henry Brown, Sarah Thornton’s brother, will most likely remained hospitalized for a couple of more weeks.  Carla Kyser was able to work half of the day yesterday.  Keep all of these folks in your prayers!

I received a voice mail from Angie LeBlanc yesterday morning simply stating that they were okay with minimal damage.  Cell phone service is limited in their area so I did not try to return her call.  Derrick Wilkerson called Pastor Byron Brown, 1st Baptist Lacombe, LA, last night and they also had minimal damage.  The same is true for Robby & Tia Heath and Barney & Linda Rogers.  So, we are thankful but we continue to pray for those who did suffer damage and for all of those without electricity. 

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

First, I want to encourage you to read the comment attached to yesterday’s post.  Thanks to Elizabeth Sessions for sharing her thoughts with us. 

Wow, Tuesday was a Monday!  The Labor Day holiday and the hurricane have everything out of whack!  The schools reopen today so that will help life get back to “normal” around here. 

I have not been able to make phone contact with Danny or Angie LeBlanc but will try again today.  Robbie & Tia Heath live in the same area and, as of yesterday morning, Tina had not been able to make phone contact with them either.  So, we will try again today.  Pray for all of those affected by Hurricane Gustav.

Earl Kirschenman was taken by ambulance to a local hospital late yesterday afternoon.  He heart rate was too rapid and he is in an ICU room.  They will do a heart cath today.  Sarah Thornton’s brother, Henry Brown, is also in a local hospital.  He took a fall last week and broke one of his legs which required surgery and now therapy.  Melissa Brown’s grandmother, Helen Pugh, is having surgery today.  Pray for these folks! 

Our last two Sundays have been a little unusual because of Fay & Gustav.  So, we are extending the sign up for next summer’s GRACE trips by one Sunday.  Members of the Friendship family interested in being a part of one of these trips are asked to sign up by this Sunday.  If paying the deposit at this time presents a problem, please contact me personally and we will work it out. 

Our AWANA ministry begins this Sunday, 9/7.  Nicole Taylor needs to meet with the workers tonight at 7:00PM in the CAB.  AWANA workers – please be present for this meeting!

I am asking our deacons to meet with me tonight at 6:00PM in my office.  This meeting will be our regular monthly meeting which was originally scheduled for this coming Sunday. 

Mark Mast, I got your messages and e-mail yesterday – thanks!  I will get back to you. 

Today is a normal Wednesday for us with the morning service at 10:00AM and then the evening activities beginning at 6:00PM.  I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus. 

First, I haven’t posted since last month!  I simply decided to basically stay away from the computer all weekend with the exception of tracking the hurricane some via this means.  Otherwise, I have stayed away from my laptop. 

Here is a brief recap of the weekend – we had a great time in Atlanta especially when one considers the outcome of the game!  (It is always a good weekend when Bama wins and a certain team in orange loses which they did last night! If only the team from South Bend would have played and lost!) 

We did not have our evening service on Sunday which is a rarity for us.  However, we were under a hurricane warning and mandatory evacuation order.  Thankfully, South Mobile County was spared the worst of the hurricane as we have only dealt with some wind and a good bit of rain.  Otherwise, all seems well.  Thanks to all of our long distance friends who have checked on us.  As far as I know, all members of the Friendship family are good to go.  We thank the Lord for His protection.

Our good friends, Danny & Angie LeBlanc, from Louisiana were in the hurricane’s path.  I will check with Danny later today to see how we can help them and others. 

Today is a day of remembrance for me as it was exactly 22 years ago on this day/date that Lisa’s only brother, Michael, went to be with the Lord as the result of an automobile accident.  Yes, time helps when dealing with the loss of a loved one but it doesn’t heal.  I can recall the events of that day as though they happened yesterday.  Join me in praying for Lisa, her parents, and her sister today. 

I preached on spiritual warfare Sunday morning and I can tell you that Satan and the demons of hell are alive and well!  I simply ask that you join me in praying for those from within and without the Friendship family are going through tremendous battles right now. 

Bro. Jerry went to a lot of time and trouble to get our new SS classroom ready and I really appreciate his efforts.  He is on vacation the remainder of this week so please don’t contact him about anything.  If you have a need, contact the church office or, after hours, contact me.  I remind you that the absolute best way to reach me by phone is by calling my office at 251 445 5416 or home phone.  All voice mails on my office phone go directly to my e-mail.  I am not real punctual in answering my cell phone or checking those voice mails. 

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

It now appears that Tropical Storm Gustav will enter the Gulf and move to the west and northwest with projected landfall on the center or west side of Louisiana.  Obviously, that could change.  However, we will continue to watch the updates/projections but it would appear that we are okay for Sunday evening’s activities too.  Again, check this blog for any updates and know that the definitive word will come Sunday morning during our services.  Pray for the folks who have already been affected by this storm and those who are yet to be impacted. 

I want to repeat that we WILL have our regular activities this Sunday morning, 8/31, with our worship services at 8:00 & 10:30AM and Sunday School at 9:15AM. 

Steve Mayfield will have surgery today so please keep him in your prayers. 

The funeral service for Shirley Bosarge will take place at 10:00AM from the chapel at Serenity Funeral Home.  Thanks to those who attended the visitation for the family last night.

The visitation for the Karen Mallette family will take place tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM at Serenity with a service set for noon tomorrow.  Pray for this family too. 

Morris & Diane Bryant and Lisa & I are leaving this afternoon heading to Atlanta.  It has been years since the four of us got away so Lisa and I are really looking forward to spending some time with them.  We thought Gustav was going to sabotage our plans but thankfully that didn’t happen.  Obviously, we have plans to attend the Bama football game tomorrow evening.  Lord willing, (and if Bama wins!) I will be in the pulpit Sunday morning at 8:00AM.

I will continue to monitor the storm and will have my computer with me in the event that I need to post an update about our services.  Otherwise, there will be no entries this weekend. 

Even though it appears the storm will not directly affect our part of the Gulf, folks like Bret Hart, Ross Genzink, Tom Compagner, Eddie Turrentine, Eric DeYoung, T. Garrett Wright, Adam Glenn, et cetera feel free to send cash donations to me!  (Somebody has to pay for our hotel room tonight!) 

I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus.  Go to church! 

The visitation for the Shirley Bosarge family will take place tonight, 8/28, from 5:00 – 8:00PM at the Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  The funeral service will take place tomorrow, 8/29, at 10:00AM from the chapel at Serenity.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to attend the visitation and/or service in order to support Tina Sprinkle and her family. 

Joyce Bosarge was diagnosed with cancer yesterday.  Please pray for her as they are in the beginning stages of discussing/planning treatment options. 

Clara Broadus had her surgery yesterday and did well.  Prayerfully, in a couple of weeks, her vision will greatly improve.  Pray for her! 

Steve Mayfield is scheduled for surgery tomorrow so please keep him in your prayers too.

I read in Pastor Jack Bailey’s newsletter yesterday, 8/27, that Rodney Fields, 40, from Danville, AL was told by the doctors in Pittsburgh, PA that his cancer was inoperable.  They had hoped to do a radical surgery to help him.  Rodney and his family are friends from years gone by and I would appreciate you praying for him and his family. 

Hurricane Gustav (actually it is still a tropical storm as I write this entry) is projected to enter the Gulf of Mexico at some point Saturday night.  Where it goes from there nobody knows!  I have seen several guesstimations and we are obviously under consideration.  We are praying and I would ask our friends from outside of our area to join us in praying.  It is a difficult thing because we don’t want to deal with a hurricane but we also don’t want anyone else to have to deal with one. 

Please note that we are NOT having the picnic this Sunday afternoon.  However, we ARE having our regular Sunday morning schedule i.e. services at 8:00 & 10:30AM with Sunday School at 9:15AM.  We will make a call on Sunday night’s service later.  Depending on the projections, that call could be announced via this blog as early as Saturday.  Stay tuned! 

I continue to be impressed with our college/young professionals Bible study.  We have now sent off all that are going away to school and we had our largest attendance yet last night – wow!  God is good! 

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

Shirley Bosarge passed from this life into heaven around 5:40AM today.  She was seemingly in some discomfort early yesterday morning but the medical folks gave her medications that eased that discomfort.  Also, I believe God gave her dying grace when it came her time to pass.  Pray for John Wayne, Tina, Mark, and the family as they walk through this valley.  Obviously, the arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be posted as soon as they are finalized. 

Clara Broadus will be having surgery on her eyes this morning.  Prayerfully, this will cure the double vision she has been experiencing.  Catherine Leach, Elizabeth Session’s mother, is having surgery this morning too.  Ryan Genzink did well through his surgery yesterday.  Carla Kyser and Phyllis Bush continue to receive their respective treatments for cancer.  Steve Mayfield will have surgery this Friday morning.  Pray for all of these folks!

Our students, 6th – 12th, will be joining 1st Baptist Wilmer’s student group for a time of bowling and fellowship this Sunday night.  The cost is $8 and you must attend the evening service in order to go bowling.  Also, our students will be taking part in a 5th Quarter fellowship following the game this Friday. 

This Sunday is the final day for members of the Friendship family to sign up for next summer’s GRACE trips.  Please don’t delay in doing this!

Today is a regular Wednesday here and I need to go get ready.  I pray that you will have a great day with Jesus.

Shirley Bosarge has been moved from ICU to a regular room in order for her family to be at her bedside continually.  It appears, barring a miracle, that her time on this earth is limited so please pray for Shirley, John Wayne, Tina, Mark, and the entire family. 

Thank you to those who attended the visitation and/or funeral service for Burney Barnes.  Also, thank you to each person who helped with the meal for the Barnes family. 

Joyce Bosarge is scheduled to receive some results tomorrow from her latest tests so please continue to pray for her.  Teresa Lara (Guatemala) is supposed to have the preliminary work done today for her upcoming surgery.  Clara Broadus is scheduled to have her third eye surgery tomorrow.  I do not have an up to the moment update on Karen Banks Mallette but do know the situation is critical.  Pray for these folks.

The visitation for the family of four months old Kaitlyn Hillman, Docia Thompson’s great niece, will take place tonight in Bogalusa, LA with the funeral service tomorrow at 2:00PM.  Pray for this family during this difficult time. 

Ryan Genzink, Ross & Kathy’s son, will have surgery this morning on his ankle.  He severly injured it last summer playing softball.  He will not be able to put any weight on this foot for the next two months and limited weight for the two months following.  Pray for Ryan and his wife, Rochelle. 

Speaking of Michigan, Leah Compagner and Brian Cochran are engaged to be married!  The wedding is set for next August.  This relationship began on our August ’07 GRACE trip and has blossomed into an engagement!  Congratulations to Leah & Brian!

Our AWANA program has been expanded and will now include a class for two & three year old children.  So, parents of children in this age group are encouraged to bring them to this class which begins on September 7 at 4:30PM. 

We will be having a fellowship meal in the CAB this Sunday, 8/31, at 5:00PM.  The church will provide the meat, bread, and drinks.  You are asked to bring casseroles, vegetables, & desserts.  Our 6:00PM service in the auditorium will feature the ministry of Dale Bosarge.  Please make plans to join us for this special time of fellowship and worship.

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

I am writing this entry at 2:30AM and the weather is much more severe now than it was at any point yesterday.  When I say “severe” that doesn’t mean anything dangerous just that it is raining and the wind is blowing.  We were blessed in that yesterday was actually a fairly calm day in South Mobile County. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good day in all three of our services yesterday.  The attendance on our buses suffered a bit from Fay but our worship service attendance was good.  As a matter of fact, the attendance in our evening service was better numerically than it was the previous Sunday and that attendance was very good.  So, we give thanks to God for His blessings! 

Today is projected to be a very wet day but it is also going to be a very busy day.  The funeral service for Bro. Burney Barnes will take place at 10:00AM from Serenity Funeral Home.  Please pray that there will be a break in the rain long enough for the military honors to take place at the burial.  Pray for Miss Jeanine and the family as they go through today. 

Shirley Bosarge remains hospitalized but I do not have an update on her condition.  Lord willing, I will see her shortly after noon today.  Joyce Bosarge goes back to the doctor this week for some more testing.  Karen Mallette nee Banks was involved in an automobile accident this weekend and is clinging to life in a local hospital.  Docia Thompson’s family suffered a tragic loss this weekend as her brother, Sam, had a four month old granddaughter to pass away.  June Strickler had knee surgery last Thursday and it has sidelined her for the time being.  My mother-in-law continues to go to hospital daily for treatment.  Lindsey Hatcher’s grandmother is also going several times a week for outpatient therapy.  Please keep these folks in your prayers. 

The Olympics are over and I am pretty bummed because our men’s water polo team lost to the team from Hungary in the finals! 

This is a big week as the college football season begins!  Some say it begins on Thursday night but all real fans know it actually begins Saturday night at 7:00PM in the Georgia Dome.  Pastor Terry Rainey and Pastor Eddie Burdette will probably be really upset after their beloved Tigers get tamed!  On another note, rumor has it that the Arkansas Razorbacks could possibly make it to the state high school championship game this season – pretty impressive!  Michigan figures to get “rich” this season but it is not happening! 

Kevin Wadkins is contemplating starting an Upward volleyball league.  If interested, contact him directly!

I need to go finish getting a message ready for the funeral service.  I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.  Be safe on the roadways. 

The arrangements for Burney Barnes are as follows:  visitation tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon from 2:00 – 5:00PM with the funeral service set for Monday morning, 8/25, at 10:00AM.  The visitation and service will take place from Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore, AL.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to attend the visitation and/or service to support the Barnes family. 

Sharon Jardee’s daughter, Kelly, is getting married today at noon in the auditorium.  You are cordially invited to attend this ceremony.

I want to say a big “thank you” to each person who attended the service at the Mission of Hope last night.  There were thirty something folks from the Friendship family in attendance which included the “regulars” with a boost from our 20-29 year old Sunday School class.  The Lord blessed and we had a good service.

Fay is coming and, it appears, bringing a lot of rain with her!  We will have our regular schedule of services tomorrow morning and we plan on having our evening activities too.  Check the blog for any updates. 

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