Pastor's Blog

Burney Barnes departed this life around 10:45PM last night.  He was surrounded by his wife, children, and other family members at the time of his passing.  A couple of ladies from the Friendship family were there too and I appreciate them being with the family during this time.  It is now 1:00AM and the family has just gotten home so it is obvious that there have been no arrangements made at this point.  I can tell you that Serenity will be handling the arrangements.  Pray for this family!

Jerry Leonard passed away around 5:30AM yesterday morning.  The visitation will take place on Sunday, 8/24, from 11:00AM until noon followed by a service at noon.  Everything will take place from Serenity Funeral Home.  Pray for the Leonard family too! 

Lisa and I visited Shirley Bosarge yesterday afternoon.  I had written the other day of how she looked better but the opposite was true yesterday.  Of course, I am not a doctor but she just didn’t look as good to me as she had on Tuesday.  Pray for Miss Shirley and the family.

Liz Whalen e-mailed to say that the doctor who examined her mother, Joyce Bosarge, yesterday gave them some news that seems to be more encouraging.  He will do more testing on Monday so please keep praying!

I have a busy day as I will try to get all of my grass cut before Fay visits with the rain.  I also will be in touch with the Barnes family to make the arrangements for Bro. Burney. 

I need to get a little sleep because the U.S. Olympic men’s water polo team takes on Serbia early this morning – must see tv!  Wow, I am glad that I am off on Fridays! 

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

Please be in prayer for Burney Barnes and his family this morning as it appears a decision will made relatively early today regarding his situation.  I will enter another post if there is any significant change in this situation.

Joyce Bosarge sees the doctor for a consultation today.  Shirley Bosarge remains hospitalized.  Steve Mayfield is now scheduled to have surgery on the 29th.  Ann Clark continues her daily commute to the hospital for treatment/therapy.  Lindsey Hatcher’s grandmother, Mrs. Parker, remains hospitalized.  Caroline Ford left this morning for Oklahoma and her nephew’s funeral service on Saturday.  Pray for all of these folks. 

Tropical storm Fay is apparently going to pay us a visit over the weekend and bring some heavy rains.  I will post more tomorrow but we plan on having our regular schedule of services on Sunday.  Pray for those who are already experiencing flooding due to this storm. 

I need to remind members of the Friendship family that there are two more Sundays to sign up for our Summer ’09 GRACE trips.  Please don’t assume that we know your plans! 

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

Word from the test on Burney Barnes is that his brain activity is limited to brain stem activity.  The doctors are going to observe him for the next day or so before taking any further action.  Please continue to pray for Bro. Burney, Miss Jeannine and the family.

Grapevine talk tells me that Shirley Bosarge had a surgical procedure done yesterday involving her port.  I don’t know the details but do know she needs our continued prayer support. 

I do not know if Gary Walton was discharged from the hospital nor do I have an update on Jerry Leonard. 

Tropical storm Fay is proving to be an interesting system.  It has already hit Florida twice and now is projected to hit that state a third time as a hurricane.  We may even eventually get some of the rain from Fay but not from the traditional Gulf route.  How different is that? 

I just read where a woman in Fullerton, CA gave birth to a daughter last Tuesday, 8/12.  Big deal?  Actually, she was driving home with her two year old son asleep in the back seat when the baby decided to come six weeks prematurely.  She pulled into her driveway, called 911, and then delivered the baby by herself in the front yard.  Wow! 

I found it ironic that the AARP is being sued for age discrimination by a 63 year old woman in Michigan.  She is seeking $25,000 as she claims to have been passed over for nine job openings because of her age.  Interesting! 

Today will be a normal Wednesday as far as our schedule is concerned.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our services/Bible studies. 

First, thanks to those who prayed for Brad Hutto and his family during their time of loss.  I attended the funeral visitation and service in Town Creek, AL yesterday afternoon and then headed home.  I was able to spend a couple of hours yesterday morning with my dad, visit with my mama at her work, and spend some time with my sister, niece, nephew, and great nephew.  I thank God for family time and for traveling mercies. 

Caroline Ford had a nephew, Mary’s son, to pass away in Oklahoma.  She will be leaving either today or tomorrow to attend that funeral visitation and service.  Pray for Caroline as she travels and for this family during their time of sorrow. 

As I write this entry, Burnie Barnes remains in an ICU room in a local hospital.  He is on a ventilator but they did turn it down some this morning.  A test is scheduled for noon (right now) to help determine brain activity.  The initial report was a heart attack but that is now not thought to be the case.  Pray for Burnie, Jeannine and the the family. 

Gary “Cooter” Walton remains hospitalized but hopes to be discharged after a test this afternoon.  His main problem seems to be related to vertigo.  At this point, his heart seems to be okay. 

Liz Whalen e-mailed me to say that her mother, Joyce Bosarge, has an appointment with a doctor on Thursday.  Perhaps they will have a more definitive word after that consultation. 

I’m not a doctor but Shirley Bosarge seemed better to me today.  She still has a long way to go.  She was alert and responded to everything I said and our prayer time.   

I received word last night that Jerry Leonard is very, very low physically.  Word was that it appears his time on this earth could be very limited now.  Pray for Jerry and his family during this difficult time.

My mother-in-law, Ann Clark, is going to therapy each day.  By the way, when I wrote that she had been affected by a “staff” infection for 28 years that was a reference to me – not her actual staph infection. 

I received word from Guatemala that Teresa Lara, Pastor Max’s wife, needs surgery pretty quickly due to a cyst that seems ready to rupture.  Pray for her and for us as we determine how we can help her. 

Louise Gibson was discharged from the hospital yesterday. 

I am about to head back to the hospital to be with Miss Jeannine and her family as they wait on the results from the test on Burnie.  If there is any significant change, I will update with another post later today.  Otherwise, no news is good news! 

I pray that you will have a great rest of the day with Jesus!

Good Monday morning from Decatur, Alabama.  Daphne & I drove up last night in order to attend the funeral service for Brad Hutto’s uncle, Ricky Bradford, this afternoon.  Pray for Brad’s mother and the entire family!

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  What a joy to welcome Stan & Tonya Gordon into the Friendship family by letter.  They have been attending for several months now and we are glad to have them and their two daughters “officially” join us. 

I was especially blessed by the good attendance in our evening service.  Thank you for being faithful! 

Shirley Bosarge is in ICU and needs our prayers.  Louise Gibson remains hospitalized.  Joyce Bosarge (Liz Whalen’s mother) received a less than favorable report from the doctors last week so pray for her too. 

Nicole Taylor tells me that we are about where she had hoped to be for our first Sunday of the AWANA ministry.  Thanks to those who have placed your children in this ministry and to those who are working in some capacity. 

Our next semester of FAITH begins tonight.  Our emphasis this semester will be on our Sunday School.  I pray each adult and youth class will have at least one team present for FAITH. 

Obviously, since I am out of town then I have no idea how many additional folks signed up for the summer ’09 GRACE trips.  Please note that you have two more Sundays to sign up for these trips and then we will open them to folks outside the Friendship family. 

We are going to have a Labor Day weekend fellowship on Sunday afternoon/evening, 8/31.  More details will be forthcoming in this week’s newsletter. 

I am off to visit family and then to the funeral service before heading home.  I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus. 

The old adage goes “seeing is believing” and I have been waiting to see the engagement ring so I could believe but decided to go ahead and make the announcement sight unseen.  Rebecca Bates is engaged!  She will become Mrs. Jay Taylor on May 16, 2009.  Congratulations to Rebecca & Jay! 

I normally don’t post on Saturdays but did need to ask you to pray specifically for Shirley Bosarge.  I visited her yesterday and John Wayne noted that her hands had begun swelling.  Tina called me late tonight to say that Miss Shirley has an infection which is causing swelling over her entire body.  Pain medication causes a significant drop in her blood pressure so she is in a great deal of discomfort.  Please pray for Shirley, John Wayne, Tina, Mark, and the entire Bosarge family. 

Also, Brad Hutto’s Uncle Ricky passed away late this afternoon.  He lived in Town Creek.  It is expected his funeral service will take place Monday afternoon.  Pray for Brad and his family. 

My mother-in-law, Ann Clark, was discharged from the hospital this afternoon.  She has to go back daily for some out patient treatments.  Thank you for your continued prayer support. 

I don’t have an update on Louise Gibson.  I could not find Steve Mayfield yesterday and have not made phone contact yet either. 

Thank you to the ladies from the Friendship family who attended the funeral service for Mary Brown’s sister yesterday.  I know Mary appreciates you being there! 

This Sunday, 8/17, will see the 20-29 class meet in the parsonage during Sunday School.  It is also the last day to sign up for AWANA.  Also, all high school Juniors & Seniors are asked to meet with me at 5:00PM in the parsonage.   

Hope to see you in the services tomorrow! 

Today is going to be a busy day.  Steve Mayfield is supposed to have surgery today.  The service for Pat Smith, sister of Mary Brown, will be from 12:00PM – 2:00PM at the Barton Baptist Church in Barton, MS.  Pray for these folks.

Bryan Cumbie, Caroline Ford’s son, had surgery yesterday and was to remain hospitalized overnight.  Lindsey Hatcher’s maternal grandmother has been in an ICU for several days now due to complications from an automobile accident.  My mother-in-law, Ann Clark, was admitted to the hospital yesterday with a staph infection (she has actually suffered from a “staff” infection for the past 28 years!).  Louise Gibson was admitted to a local hospital yesterday.  Shirley Bosarge was discharged from the hospital this past Tuesday and taken back to the hospital by ambulance yesterday afternoon.  Caroline Ford’s test results came back okay.  I don’t have an update on Joyce Bosarge, Liz Whalen’s mother, and her test results.  Carla Kyser continues to take treatments.  My dad got a good report from the doctor.  Jeff Camp is going to have surgery at a date TBA.  Phyllis Bush continues to take the radiation treatments.  Pray for these folks too!

I need to meet with the high school Juniors & Seniors only this Sunday afternoon, 8/17, at 5:00PM.  We will meet in the parsonage.

Parents interested in their children being involved in the AWANA program must sign them up by this Sunday, 8/17. 

Folks planning on taking part in the GRACE trips next summer must sign up by Sunday, 8/31. 

Lisa spent the night at the hospital with her mother so I am Mr. Mom this morning.  Gotta go fix the girls’ hair – it is going to be awesome! 

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

We had another good Wednesday in our services.  Once again, we had a great number in our “college/young professionals” Bible study as there were 38 folks present.  Thanks to Soy & Deidra for hosting this event!  I was in our senior high Bible study and they had a good number, 34, of students present for that event too.  Overall, we had a good attendance in all areas last night and I appreciate the folks who give Wednesdays priority! 

This Sunday, 8/17, is the final day to sign up for our AWANA ministry which begins Sunday, 9/7, at 4:30PM.  You can call the church office today by 5:00PM or sign up Sunday with a form.  If you have questions, please contact Nicole Taylor directly.

Also, we have three more Sundays for members of the Friendship family to sign up for next summer’s GRACE mission trips.  The dates for Bro. Jerry’s trip will be Thursday, 7/16, through Thursday, 7/23.  The dates for the “college/young professionals” trip will be Thursday, 7/23, through Thursday, 7/30.  The other team led by me will go either 6/25 – 7/2 or 7/2 – 7/9 – that date will be firm in a few days.  We cannot “assume” that a person is going so please sign up by 8/31. 

I need to meet with all of our high school juniors and seniors this Sunday, 8/17, at 5:00PM.  This meeting will take place in the parsonage.  Juniors & seniors, please be present!

Steve Mayfield’s surgery was postponed until tomorrow.  Mary Brown’s sister, Pat Smith, passed away yesterday afternoon and the arrangements are pending.  Caroline Ford and Joyce Bosarge are awaiting their respective test results.  Carla Kyser & Phyllis Bush are undergoing their respective treatments.  Louise Gibson is supposed to be admitted to the hospital today for some testing.  My mother-in-law, Ann Clark, is sick and could be admitted to the hospital tomorrow.  Brenda Poiroux had a nuclear stress test yesterday.  Pray for all of these needs!

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

First, Danny & Liz Cole’s granddaughter, Bethani Eddins, did not have surgery yesterday as there was a scheduling conflict.  It will be rescheduled to be done in a month or so.

Mary Brown’s sister, Pat Smith, was seemingly very near passing from this life late yesterday afternoon.  The last of her six children got to the hospital around 4:00PM and the family was going to meet with the doctor. 

I didn’t get an update on Shirley Bosarge.  However, I did hear that Joyce Bosarge, Liz Whalen’s mother, is having a test done today as she continues to have some physical problems.  Caroline Ford has also been having some health issues and goes for a test this afternoon.  Jeff Camp is still deciding on his options regarding his cancer.  Carla Kyser is still undergoing treatments.  I think Steve Mayfield is having a procedure done today.  Pray for these folks. 

Sign up continues for AWANA and next summer’s GRACE trips.  Please note the respective deadlines!

Today is a regular Wednesday with all of our services, classes, Bible studies, et cetera at their normal time.  I think the only major difference is that our middle school (6:00PM) and high school choirs (7:10PM) meet tonight for the first time this church year. 

As the day passed yesterday, I became emotionally despondent as yesterday marked the two year anniversary of Bruce Gill’s funeral service.  My thoughts were with Bruce’s family all weekend as he passed away on 8/9/06.  I miss Bruce tremendously and ask that you join me in praying for Tressa and the family. 

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.  I hope to see the members of the Friendship family in our services today or tonight.