Pastor's Blog

I keep forgetting to share two things that I have known for several days.  First, Estuardo Morales (Pastor Max’s son-in-law) is not going to need surgery at this time.  This is the opinion of Dr. Tony Matheu.  Please keep praying for Estuardo and his family. 

Second, I spoke to Pastor Terry Rainey about Josh Caldwell’s treatments.  Josh continues to do well and has not had any adverse side effects thus far.  Keep praying for Josh too!

I was wrong – imagine that!  Danny & Liz Cole’s granddaughter had pre-op stuff done yesterday and will actually have surgery today at UAB.  Pray for her. 

Mary Brown’s sister suffered a major heart attack yesterday which did extensive damage to her heart muscle.  She certainly needs our prayers during this time. 

Shirley Bosarge was to receive a new stent in her bladder yesterday and then was expecting to go home from the hospital today.  She is very intent on going home even though she still has a long way to go in her recovery.  Pray for Shirley. 

As of this writing, we have eleven folks from the Friendship family who have signed up for our summer ’09 GRACE mission trips.  Ten of those have signed up to be on Bro. Jerry’s trip which means my trip should be very easy to lead!  I am simply reminding folks from the Friendship family to sign up during August and to pay the necessary non-refundable deposit.  Again, the airlines have changed the rules and we have to reserve seats early and have to be more definite in our numbers. 

Speaking of signing up, this Sunday, 8/17, is the final day to sign up for the AWANA program which is scheduled to begin in September.  This is for all 4K through 5th graders. 

I am having a difficult time being interested in the taped Olympic events but have enjoyed watching the live events.  Personally, I miss the “curling” events from the Winter games!  If they would only show the women’s soccer games live then my life would seem more complete! 

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

I heard comments and received e-mails that expressed appreciation for the services featuring Kacy Benson this past weekend.  It was certainly a joy to see Patrick Julian make a public profession of faith and Hannah Black pray to receive Jesus as her personal Savior.  It was a blessed weekend! 

Alisha Vice did a nice job of sharing about her summer experiences too.  Thank you to those who attended that service and for all who helped her in any way this past summer.  Pray for her as she now moves to New Orleans to begin a new chapter in her life. 

Danny & Liz Cole’s granddaughter is scheduled to have surgery at UAB today.  I don’t know the specifics but do ask you to pray as the Lord brings it to your remembrance. 

Shirley Bosarge remains hospitalized.  I think Steve Mayfield is scheduled for surgery later this week.  He was in the second service yesterday morning but I did not get a chance to speak to him.  Pray for Miss Shirley and Bro. Steve. 

We need parents to enroll their children in the AWANA program.  Plans call for us to begin on Sunday, 9/7, and the classes will be from 4:30 – 6:00PM each week.  Nicole Taylor is coordinating this ministry and you can contact her directly or call the church office for more information. 

Even though Cottage Hill Academy began classes this past week, today seems more like the “first day” of school as the public schools begin.  Faith Academy also begins today.  Pray for the students, teachers, administators, bus drivers, and all involved in the education process. 

Our women’s ministry has begun selling tickets to their annual conference featuring the ministry of Tammy Bryant.  You can call the church office for more information. 

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

It is unusual for me to post on a Saturday but I am basically waiting for daylight to come so I can weed eat my yard.  I wanted to encourage our adults and students to give priority to attending tonight’s service at 8:00PM.  There will be pizza for the students at 7:00PM.  I attended the service last night and God really used Kacy Benson to speak a clear word to all of us.  I appreciate the adults who attended.  It was a good night.  Pray for tonight’s service and come join us!

As a matter of fact, I would encourage everyone to attend the 10:30AM service in the morning as that is the service in which Kacy will be preaching.  Jon Cowart and several others from the Friendship family will be leading our musical praise and it is going to be good! 

A few random thoughts from this past week:

I have always considered Miss Exie Woods & Miss Idice Reeves two of the sweetest ladies I have ever known.  Their respective afflictions which have rendered them unable to communicate verbally has not changed their sweet spirit. 

Kacy Benson has no idea that Grand Bay is an unincorporated area with no police department, jail, et cetera!

A trip to do mission work in Guatemala impacts the people receiving the houses, clothes, et cetera and may have a larger impact on those doing the mission work.  This seems to be true of every team regardless of where they come from as evidenced by the ten teams using the Camp house this summer. 

Chris Taylor is doing a good job of leading our students.  Nicole is a huge help to him.

Our college/young professionals are a good group of young adults with a heart to help our student ministry. 

If you mow your yard at 3:00AM, you can do so without interruptions! 

Lisa and I now have thirty something pecan trees and I am clueless! 

Driving a zero turn mower is different from driving a mower with a steering wheel – look out for that tree! 

Kacy Benson is a good juggler! 

I pray you will have a great Saturday and I hope to see you in church tomorrow!

Joey Switzer called around 6:30PM last night to say that he finally heard from the pathology report – no cancer!  Hallelujah!  He is rejoicing and giving God the glory!  I ask you to join him in thanking God! 

Shirley Bosarge remains hospitalized.  I saw her ever so briefly yesterday as she was being taken from the room for another test.  I also was able to visit with Miss Alice Pigorsch and Miss Exie Woods yesterday.  They both seemed to be doing okay all things considered.  I stopped by to check on Clara but didn’t get her to the door and assumed she was probably resting. 

Jeff Camp, Miss Kittie’s son, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Of course, Jeff lives in Montgomery and is active military.  They are in the early stages of deciding which course of action to take to battle this disease in his body.  Pray for Jeff and his family!

Our students have a big weekend beginning tonight at 7:00PM.  Kacy Benson is scheduled to arrive this afternoon and tonight’s service begins at 7:00PM.  John Cowart, Chris Taylor, and a host of our students were in the auditorium last night rehearsing the praise & worship music.  I encourage all of our students to attend these three services – tonight at 7:00PM, tomorrow night at 8:00PM, and Sunday morning at 10:30AM.  Pray for our student ministry!

First Baptist Wilmington, NC has a team in Guatemala this week and they are staying in the Camp house.  Today is their last day of ministry as they fly home tomorrow.  This brings the summer of ’08 to a close for GRACE Ministries and it has been a blessed summer.  Thanks to each person who has taken part in this ministry this summer.  God has been so very faithful and we give Him the glory!

We are using the month of August to sign up next summer’s GRACE participants.  Please sign up as we will open our trips up to others once August ends.  We are also finalizing the team dates and it appears our summer will be absolutely full. 

Nicole Taylor is hosting a meeting regarding our AWANA ministry this Sunday evening following the service.  All interested workers should attend.  Don’t forget – Alisha Vice will be sharing from her summer experiences during our evening service.   

Let the Games begin!  Today marks the official opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics and I am looking forward to watching some of the events.  I will watch with a bit of a different angle since the Lord allowed me to visit Beijing this past April.  The Olympics aren’t what they used to be but I still enjoy watching them and following the storylines on some of the athletes. 

I am glad that Bret Favre got traded.  Trade him, play him, do something but please quit talking about him were my thoughts! 

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

Our Wednesday went very well.  It was especially exciting to see 35 or so college/young professionals gather at Michael & Deidra’s house for Bible study at 8:00PM.  When I left at 10:45PM many of them were still going strong in a time of fellowship!  Blessed times!

Clara Broadus did well through her surgery but then had to be taken back to the hospital because of pain.  Her eyes were scratched some way and they gave her some more meds and said she should feel better in a couple of days.

Kevin Sprinkle said that Shirley Bosarge is about the same.  She has a long way to go.  David Boutwell, Greg’s brother, went home from the hospital this past Monday after having been in there since Good Friday.  Joey Switzer did not hear from the pathology report yesterday – maybe today! 

Bret Hart – ask Ryan to consider the request in yesterday’s e-mail message.  T. Garrett – rumor has it you will be here this Sunday? 

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

Clara Broadus is having the second of three eye surgeries this morning.  This one is an outpatient procedure.  Shirley Bosarge remains hospitalized as does R.L. Pope with a blood clot in one of his legs.  Gene Davis did well through his surgery and is supposed to go home on Friday.  Pray for these folks!

The funeral service for Linda Green’s sister, Rose, was yesterday.  Pray for that family. 

I spoke to Joey Switzer via the phone yesterday afternoon and the final pathology report is supposed to be ready today so pray as they await that word.  Keep praying!

I had the opportunity to visit with Louise Gibson, Martha Patrick, and Idice Reeves yesterday.  All three ladies seemed to be doing well.  Miss Idice is not able to communicate verbally but seemed to enjoy the visit.  I have plans to be in a couple of more homes today, Lord willing. 

Today is a normal Wednesday at Friendship with the morning service at 10:00AM and then the various activities at 6:00 & 7:00PM.  Please note that our college/young professionals Bible study will take place at Michael & Deidra’s house beginning at 8:00PM. 

Don’t forget to pray for this weekend, to sign up for AWANA, and to sign up for next summer’s GRACE trips. 

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

I had the opportunity to visit Shirley Bosarge in the hospital yesterday afternoon.  She is still weak and continues to need many prayers.  I ask that you join me in praying for her, John Wayne, and the family. 

I failed to mention yesterday morning that Gene Davis was having surgery on his knee yesterday.  This procedure took place in Houston and it appears related to a possible staph infection.  Gena has been suffering from migraine headaches.  Pray for Gene & Gena. 

My message Sunday focused on “Back to the Basics” and I am working on that in my personal life.  Yesterday, I attended the Mobile Baptist Association’s Pastors’ Conference which is a simply a time for the pastors of our association to meet, eat, fellowship, and spend some time in the Word.  I had not taken the time to attend one of these meetings in several months.  Pastor Charles Gibbs is serving as the President of this conference and is trying to make it an effective time in the lives of the MBA pastors.   

Today, my intent is to be in the homes of some our folks who are either homebound or have some other physical problems.  If you know of someone in need of a pastoral visit, send me an e-mail at pastor@friendshipfamily.net. 

All persons interested in working with AWANA are asked to call the church office or contact Nicole Taylor directly.  Our plan is to begin AWANA on Sunday afternoon, September 7, at 4:30PM. 

Please pray for Kacy Benson and the student ministy emphasis this weekend.  Service times with Kacy will be 7:00PM on Friday, 8:00PM on Saturday, and 10:30AM on Sunday. 

Yesterday was a good day as our season tickets to the Bama football games arrived via UPS.  Folks like Bret Hart are envious!  Pastor Terry Rainey and Pastor Eddie Burdette need to know that in only 25 days we will notch our first victory of the year over those Clemson Tigers! 

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

The Lord blessed and we had a good day in His house yesterday.  We welcomed Davy Bosarge into the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  The attendance in all three of our services was very good.  The fifteen folks who were left in Atlanta on Saturday night arrived home safely around 11:00AM.  Special thanks to Kevin Vice & Warren Guidry for driving to Gulfport to bring them home.  Alisha Vice arrived in Gulfport around 10:00PM last night after her summer of teaching abroad. 

Somewhat amazingly, Joey Switzer was present for the 10:30AM & 6:00PM services yesterday.  We continue to praise God for His blessings in that situation. 

Shirley Bosarge is on the telemetry floor in a local hospital and is improving.  Linda Green’s sister, Rose, passed away this weekend.  Vera Bosarge’s brother, David, is having five to seven by-pass surgery today and her niece is also having surgery.  Clara Broadus will be having another surgery on her eye Wednesday followed by a third surgery on 8/27.  Carla Kyser continues to receive her treatments.  Pray for all of these folks and their families. 

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will see us focus on our students as we host Kacy Benson from Austin, Texas.  Kacy is one of the featured speakers at Wild Week each summer.  He will be preaching at 7:00PM on Friday, 8:00PM on Saturday, and 10:30AM on Sunday.  Pray for this weekend! 

We will have the sign up sheets available beginning this Sunday, 8/10, through Sunday, 8/31, for next summer’s GRACE trips.  We are asking folks to sign up and to pay a $100 non-refundable deposit.  The exact dates have yet to be determined but will most likely be very close to the dates used this summer.  We will not be using the Saturday to Saturday format – who ever thought up that idea?

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

First, I have to give a shout out to my sister-in-law, Sue, as today is her birthday!  She lives in China so I don’t know if she has already celebrated it or not but happy birthday Sue! 

I went to update last night and the connection was not strong enough to send a message.  Sorry about that!  Everyone arrived safe and sound yesterday.  Thanks to Ross & Kathy for leading the Yankees!

It is 6:15AM and we will leave at 7:00AM for the first service at the Alpha & Omega Church with Pastor Dirk Lopez and our good friend, Juan Marcos Ruiz.  The rest of the day will be spent in Antigua.

Bro. Jerry’s team made it home safely last night after a long day.  I have chosen to remain on the pastor’s blog this morning so as to not confuse the two teams and their entries.  Tonight, Lord willing, I plan on moving to the GRACE blog for our updates.  Our own Chinese Chris will be uploading pictures.  Stay tuned!

We are praying for our respective churches as they have services today.  Pray for us! 

This will be short and sweet as we sitting in the Atlanta airport about to board our plane for Guatemala.  The Alabama & Tennessee folks on this trip flew out of Gulfport, MS while the Michigan folks flew out of Detroit.  We are scheduled to arrive in Guatemala City at 11:24AM (local time) and the Yankees come at 1:12PM.  Pray for our travels. 

Dr. Faircloth is so right!  He said the tumor in Joey Switzer is normally found in women and Joey is a walking testament of that fact as he has now changed his mind regarding surgery again!  As it stands now, he will probably be undergoing surgery either Wednesday or Friday with Dr. Faircloth doing the surgery.  This has been a difficult decision for Joey but one he is comfortable with as he has gotten nothing but good reviews on the doctor.  A second neurosurgeon agreed with Dr. Faircloth’s diagnosis in saying that the tumor is not malignant.  Keep praying! 

I spoke briefly to Dr. Tony Matheu yesterday about Estuardo.  He is thinking that Estaurdo may not need surgery.  A definite word should come by Monday or Tuesday. 

Bro. Jerry’s team is heading home as I write this entry.  Pray for their safe travels.  They have had a good week. 

Hopefully, I will add to this blog later today once we are safe and sound in the mission house.  Pray for us!