Pastor's Blog

Good Wednesday morning on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon!  Is that strange or what?  I know that some of you (insert Deidra’s name here) can’t get used to me posting at night when it is really the same day’s morning in the States.  I did tell Eddie this morning that if I died while in China that I would have lived one day longer than if I had been at home! 

We had an uneventful flight from Shanghai to Qingdao (pronounced Chingdow) last night.  China Eastern Airlines reminded so much of Philippines Airlines which we used 14 years ago on our mission trip to the Philippines – crowded and not much room between the seats.  Thank God for Delta! 

Wow, Qingdao is a beautiful coastal city!  I wasn’t too impressed with Shanghai but not so with Qingdao.  I have come to work with Eddie today (take your brother to work day in China – not really but it sounds good) in another city and this place is very beautiful too.  We had lunch at McDonalds after Sue had cooked us breakfast.  Again, this Chinese food isn’t too bad!  Sue, Lisa, Dana, & Gina are doing something back in Qingdao but I don’t know what.  The weather today is wonderful!

Qingdao is where the Olympic sailing competition will be held this August.  I have learned since being here that Lottie Moon actually sailed from Qingdao on her final trip from China. 

Larry Whitehurst had a nephew, Richard Freeman, pass away Monday so please pray for that family.  Carolyn Barkley & Sue Carpenter continue to recover from knee replacement surgery; Kevin Wadkins is recovering from a surgery this past Monday although I don’t have an update on his condition; Miss Exie Woods came home Sunday; and Carla Kyser remains hospitalized awaiting the test results from her latest PET scan.

We have had 67 pledges for scholarships thus far.  Our goal is to be at 75 by this Sunday’s end but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to come home to 100!  Thank you to those who have pledged/given thus far! 

Pam Landry is engaged!  Congratulations!  I knew she was flying to SC this past Saturday to visit Brandon.  What I don’t know is whether Brandon proposed or some guy sitting beside her on the plane?  At any rate, she is engaged and I know she is happy! 

It is nearing 2:00PM here and Eddie and I are about to leave “work” and head back to his house.  I feel like his little boy having been put in a conference room with my computer & a diet coke and told to be quiet! 

I hope you have a great Wednesday with Jesus.  Students, remember that your Bible study begins at 6:30PM tonight in the CAB!   

For some unexplainable reason, since being in Qingdao I am not able to access my personal e-mail account.  So, if anyone has sent me an important message since around 6:00AM CST Tuesday morning please send it again to pastor@friendshipfamily.net. 

Also, for the time being, please send any messages to my personal account or the pastor@friendshipfamily.net. 

Please note that I cannot reply to the messages sent to me via our website.  Thanks for your help and understanding. 

I have a call into Al to find out what is going on!  Hope you have a great evening!

Greetings from China where it is raining and fairly cool today.  I am sitting in a Shanghai restaurant called Johnny Moo.  They have free internet access so Eddie & I came here while Lisa and Sue continue to shop.  As for the shopping, I feel like I am in Guatemala – okay mister, how much?  Want a watch?  Buy a shirt!  Please mister! 

We are leaving Shanghai at 7:00PM to fly to Qingdao which is where Eddie & Sue live.  We will be there until Sunday and we will then take a train to Beijing.  I really had plans to lose some weight but I think I am gaining as we ate at Tony Roma’s last night, McDonalds this morning, and Johnny Moo’s for lunch.  This Chinese food isn’t too bad! 

Carolyn Barkley and Sue Carpenter (Deanna’s mother) both had knee replacement surgery yesterday.  Carla Kyser was still in the hospital the last I heard.  J.B. Kelley had a procedure done yesterday morning too.  The funeral service for James Swann will take place today.  Annette Williams is supposed to have shoulder surgery today.  Please pray for all of these folks and their respective situations. 

Ben Vickers sent me a clip of WLOX’s coverage of Bro. Robbie’s anniversary celebration.  That was nice.  Thanks Ben! 

I see where Delta and Northwest have merged which probably isn’t good for helping find cheaper air fares in the days ahead. 

I want to remind all students who will be attending either of the Wild Week camps this summer that there will be a mandatory meeting on Sunday, 4/27, immediately following the evening service.  This is a must and at least one parent must attend too as there will be forms to sign and get notarized. 

I don’t know exactly where we are on our scholarships for the pastor’s conference.  Bro. Jerry sent me a figure from the past two Sundays but I believe I already had some of those in my count.  He will send me a list and I will check against mine and then give a report as to where we stand.

The time has come for us to begin heading toward the airport.  Lord willing, I will blog again tomorrow morning. 

I pray you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  Don’t forget that today is tax day! 

We are in China, safe and sound, thank the Lord!  We left Atlanta at 10:05AM Sunday and arrived in Shanghai via a direct Delta flight around 2:00PM today.  Actually, the fifteen hour flight wasn’t bad at all as they had movies, games, two good meals, and a snack.  Dana & Gina did very well.  I slept initially (as in never knew when we took off) and then read a book.  I spent most of the day looking at my watch and praying for the services at Friendship.  I do pray that all went well!

We have checked into the Westin Hotel and are in the process of getting ready to go out and begin to do the tourist stuff!  Eddie & Sue met us at the Shanghai airport and had a driver bring us to the hotel.  (Of course, Sue isn’t real happy with me right now as her new grandson in Hartselle, Alabama is literally hours old and she is here hosting us instead of boarding a plane for the US.  It is not my fault that Jamie delivered early!) 

Okay, miracle of miracles.  This one tops my getting our taxes done before 4/15.  Lisa did all of our packing and she evidently used the Mark Mast formula for packing as we only brought two (2) suitcases for all four of us.  Even the Delta agent checking us in was impressed!  This is the same woman who packed four suitcases for the two of us to spend about 24 hours in Michigan the other weekend.  If only Al Michaels were here! 

As you can see, Al has been to China and installed the internet so I should be able to blog daily.  (This post may show 4/13 under my title as this laptop is on a USA calendar)

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

This will have to be short and sweet as we are about to board the plane bound for China.  We left GB around 12:30AM arriving at the airport in Atlanta around 7:00AM ET.  Thank God for safety in travel. 

I forgot to mention yesterday about Sarah Thornton’s brother’s memorial service.  My schedule was drastically changed with Mr. Swann’s passing so I was not able to attend.  However, I have been praying for Sarah and her family. 

There is a new Turrentine (almost) in the world.  Our niece, Jamie, and her husband, Adam Glenn, are the proud parents of Jace Elleson Glenn who checked into this world this morning around 6:30AM.  He weighed 5 lbs 14 ounces and was about one month early.  Mother and son are doing great! 

Thank you to each person from Friendship who attended the service at Helena Baptist last night.  I had a great time sharing about Bro. Robbie. 

As I type this, Bro. Johnny is preaching for us.  I am praying for him and Bro. Jerry as they preach today.  By the way, I missed church the Sunday following our wedding as we were bound for Mexico. 

 I will tell you about the miracle of miracles in my next post.  It is unbelievable!

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

I was called by Miss Louise Gibson around 6:00AM to ask me to come to the Grand Bay Convalescent Home.  Martha Patrick’s brother, James “Bubba” Swann, passed away around 5:00AM this morning and I went to be with Martha as she received the news.  Mr. Swann was 90 years old and, ironically, his wife passed away exactly one year ago today.  Pray for Martha and the family as they go through this time. 

Also, I learned this morning that Mr. Emmett Gaston passed away yesterday.  Mr. Emmett was a member of 1st Baptist and is a long time Grand Bay resident.  The visitation will be tomorrow night with the funeral service taking place Monday.  Pray for the Gaston family too. 

I seldom blog on the weekend but wanted to share a couple of quick things with you.  It is 2:30AM and I just got in from Faith Academy as Hien has been with the choir in Montgomery.  You would have thought one of our young adults would have offered to make that run for me – but no! 

Carla Felps Kyser was admitted to the hospital last night.  She has been sick since her treatment on Tuesday and began running a fever yesterday.  The doctor wanted to give her some IV antibiotics and plans on letting her go home this morning if all is okay. 

Candy Povilonis did come home from the hospital.  I saw her a couple of different times yesterday in Grand Bay. 

I attended the service at Helena Baptist last night.  Randy Von Kanel did a good job of preaching the Word.  I will be preaching tonight at 7:00PM and hope a good number of the Friendship family will join me. 

We picked up a new blog reader – Rex Looney.  Rex is the worship leader at a church in the Huntsville, AL area and a longtime friend.  He and I come from the same neck of the woods originally. 

I pray that you will have a good Saturday with Jesus! 

It seems that I am always, as they say, “a day late and a dollar short” and it happened again.  Yesterday, 4/10, was Carl Ray Moulds’ birthday and I knew that but forgot to mention it in this space.  So, happy belated birthday Carl Ray! 

In 1982 Al Michaels asked, “do you believe in miracles?” as the American hockey team defeated the Russians.  I do believe in miracles and I witnessed one yesterday.  Lisa and I went to our CPA’s office during lunch and signed our tax forms which meant we are completely finished with our 2007 taxes and it was only April 10th!  (Aren’t you proud TJ?)  I felt almost guilty being finished so early! 

The number of scholarships for our Guatemala pastor’s conference has grown to 26 as a couple of folks came to the office yesterday with pledge sheets and checks.  Thank you!  Again, I hope to be at 50 scholarships after this Sunday, 4/13, and then at 100 by month’s end with all of this coming from within the Friendship family.  Our friends outside the Friendship family will be given ample opportunity to help financially with this conference too so don’t think we are excluding you. 

Bro. Jerry had a procedure done yesterday to hopefully correct the dizziness he has been having since his accident.  He is having to keep his head straight until tomorrow but should be good to go after that. 

I do not have an update on the folks in the hospital except to say that Candy was wanting to go home real bad yesterday.  Don’t know if that happened or not.  Margaret Davis was admitted to the hospital with something related to her pace maker.  David Boutwell, Jack Leasure and George Hill remain hospitalized.  I haven’t heard from Larry’s stress test.  I also haven’t heard from Marvin DeYoung’s surgery but hopefully the mother or father of Juanita Josephina will give me a holler today!  Gene & Gena Davis’ daughter-in-law, Pam, is having surgery in Texas today because of a brain aneurysm.  Scott Eckert’s mother, Jackie, is having a surgical procedure done today too.  Please pray for these folks!

Happy birthday wishes are in order Scott Older (23 today, 4/11), Jacqueline Crawley (sweet 16 tomorrow, 4/12), Julie McGath (Sunday, 4/13) and the commish in Michigan, Dean Kapenga (Sunday, 4/13).  Suffice it to say that Julie & Dean are old enough to not need their ages revealed!  Happy birthday to all of these folks! 

I have received several e-mails with folks asking if we are flying American Airlines to China.  No, we are on Delta and our plane is a 777.  Thanks for your concern. 

Again, I will be preaching at Helena Baptist tomorrow night at 7:00PM.  (FYI – Randy Von Kanel is preaching tonight)  Lisa, the girls, and I will then drive to Atlanta for our Sunday morning flight.  I do have plans to blog from China (I am assuming Al has gotten this internet thing over there by now) with updates from here via Bro. Jerry. 

I know we will have a number of folks out of town this weekend due to next week’s Spring break.  I hope those folks have a good time away.  I also ask the members of the Friendship family who will remain in town to attend the services this Sunday morning and evening. 

Lots to do today in preparation for tomorrow night’s service and Sunday’s flight.  I hope you will have a great Friday with Jesus! 

The Lord blessed us with a good day yesterday in our various services, Bible studies, classes, et cetera.  We serve a good God! 

No significant changes on the prayer list with the exception that we learned last night that Candy Povilonis is in the hospital.  Word is that she is supposed to come home today. 

Pattie Suthoff was taken to the hospital late yesterday afternoon with chest pains but I haven’t heard from Bernard or Pattie as to the results.  Larry Whitehurst is to have his stress test today.  It appears everything is fine but because of family history the doctor wants to do run this test. 

Pastor Roscoe Wentworth is preaching at Helena Baptist tonight for Bro. Robbie’s 50th anniversary celebration.  That service begins at 7:00PM as does the Saturday night service where I will be preaching.  Again, I am inviting all members of the Friendship family to join me for that Saturday service. 

We presently have 22 pastor’s conference scholarships either pledged or money in hand.  Indications are that several others either pledged last night or will do so this Sunday.  My goal is 50 by this Sunday and 100 by the end of the month.  Thank you to each person who is helping make this conference a reality for those Guatemalan pastors. 

I hope you will have a great Thursday with Jesus. 

This entry is a little late as I continue to have internet issues.  Yesterday, I wore my “doctor” hat and diagnosed Larry Whitehurst.  Today, I am wearing my “computer technician” hat and have decided that the problem lies within my router.  I think it has died!  Oh well, I am waiting on the grid anyway and this internet stuff will be so obsolete! 

Edna came with the news yesterday morning that Sarah Thornton’s brother, Matt Brown, passed away after a battle with cancer.  A memorial service will take place this Saturday.  Pray for Sarah and her family.

Docia Thompson e-mailed last night to share that her nephew, Robert Allums, in Dallas, Texas passed away very unexpectedly yesterday.  He was 45 years old and like a son to Larry & Docia so please pray for this family. 

Christy Wynn has an aunt, Joann Shaw, in the hospital.  David Boutwell, Jack Leasure, and George Hill all remain hospitalized.  Marvin DeYoung is having his heart surgery in Michigan today.  Larry Whitehurst has his stress test today.  Carla Kyser had her treatment yesterday.  My understanding is that Pastor Benny Still is in the hospital with heart/kidney problems.

Eric Burnett went home from the hospital on Monday night.  Miss Exie Woods is scheduled to come home Saturday. 

My dad recently had another scan and got the results this week.  There is some activity that the doctor wants to watch for three months and then do another scan.  Early indications are that his cancer is active again but that won’t be known until the next set of tests. 

Pastor Travis Northcutt and family leave today flying to North Carolina where he will preach in view of a call this Sunday.  Pray for them during this time. 

We have received pledges and/or money to scholarship 14 of the 100 pastors thus far.  My prayer is that we will go over the 50 mark this Sunday and then get the remaing 50 needed on the last two Sundays of the month.  Again, we are asking members of the Friendship family to help us with this area of the conference. 

I deeply appreciate the person who spent a great deal of time yesterday working on diverting the rain water from the northwest corner of the CAB.  I think he has solved the problem for the time being.  I am always blessed by those who give to the Lord without any fanfare.  Rewards are waiting in heaven for folks who serve in such a capacity.

Today is a regular Wednesday at Friendship.  I hope the members of the Friendship family will join us for Bible study and worship.

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