Pastor's Blog

I was a bit premature in saying that Vaughn Womack was on the upswing as he has had a pretty tough week.  He is doing better but the doctor seems to think it will be Monday or so before he really begins to feel better. 

Dominique Wilcox, 10, was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  He burned his foot/ankle about three weeks ago and it has become infected.  He will be in the hospital for about two weeks as they rid his body of the infection and then do a skin graft. 

The ladies and a couple of guys finished the gourmet apples yesterday.  Thanks for a job well done!  Students who sold them need to contact Becky Hatcher to pick their order up in order to distibute them.  T. Garrett, I need your address!  Bret, you are supposed to have one coming! 

A couple of our young adults are weighing their seminary options as they are completing their college studies.  Wes Bates visited Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth earlier this week and will go to Southern in Louisville at a future date.  Alisha Vice has visited Midwestern in Kansas City along with the New Orleans seminary and is visiting Mid-America this week too.  Pray as these young adults seek God’s will for their lives!

I spoke to Gene Davis, Texas, via the phone yesterday afternoon and he is doing well.  He will be having knee surgery followed by shoulder surgery in the fairly near future but otherwise he is okay.  He and Gena have made some changes but out of choice and not necessity.  He and Gena send their regards to everyone!  (Gene, the letter and DVD are being mailed today!) 

I think Luke 14:18A is the verse of the week for the Friendship family!  We will be unloading the contents of one container into another container beginning at 8:00AM tomorrow morning.  The Friendship folks are the greatest and I know we will have sufficient help. 

Ken Freeman called yesterday and he is ready to get here and preach the Word!  Pray, attend, invite!  Lord send a revival! 

Our missionary friend, Mark Mast, will celebrate his birthday tomorrow!  I think this will be his 61st birthday but I could be wrong!  LOL!  Mark, I hope you will have an awesome day!  Mark Mast and his family are so awesome in their service to Jesus! 

I hope you will have a wonderful day with Jesus! 

It was a huge blessing last night to see Wendy Johnston join us for the evening service.  She was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday and in the service last night.  That is not surprising considering how faithful Wendy is to the church!  Pray for her complete recovery. 

Traci Holifield is having surgery today.  Vaughn Womack seems to be on the upswing.  Miss Exie continues to rehab as does Phyllis Bush’s mother.  Carla has received her first treatment and will get another in three weeks.  Pray for these folks. 

We are just days away from Ken Freeman being with us for a series of services.  Jon Cowart is going to lead our musical worship during those services.  I ask you to pray for these services, attend each one, and bring others with you.  We need revival! 

We need about 20 folks to help us unload/load the container this Saturday morning.  We had about 10 – 12 folks volunteer last night so there is still room for more.  Let me know via e-mail or by calling the church office if you can help. 

The ladies will be back in the apple kitchen today.  I really appreciate these ladies and their labor of love! 

Our middle school students will have a game night tonight from 6:00 – 8:00PM.

Hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus. 

It is almost unbelievable but the shipping company has plans to drop a container on our property this Friday, 2/8, and we can load it this Saturday morning, 2/9.  This is an answer to prayer! 

We need a 20 – 25 folks to come to the church this Saturday morning, 2/9, beginning at 8:00AM to help us transfer this load.  We will serve you a biscuit breakfast and will finish as quickly as possible.  I anticipate this will take us 2, possibly 3 hours, to complete. 

If you can help, please send me an e-mail at pastor@friendshipfamily.net or tell me at church tonight.  Thanks in advance for your help!

I am sure that folks like Tom Compagner, Ross Genzink, Bret Hart, Mark Mast, & Travis Northcutt would love to help but the distance factor rules them out! 

Yesterday was a beehive of activity around the church as the morning was spent loading more stuff on the container.  I really appreciate the five guys who gave up their morning to help with this project.  I have asked that the next loading fall on a Saturday morning so many others can be involved in the process.  That will be fun! 

We had some ladies who began working at 5:45AM yesterday morning and stayed until 8:00PM or so last night making the gourmet apples.  Wow!  I don’t think our students come close to realizing what a huge sacrifice these ladies make to help them lower thier out of pocket cost for the GRACE trips.  (Of course I am not going to mention how much time I spent stirring the pot – a little literally and a lot figuratively!) 

We also had a couple show up last night to clean the carpet in the choir room – what an act of service!  It ranks up there with the lady who comes and cleans the nursery each Monday!  The Friendship family is blessed with some wonderful folks!  I thank God for these ministers who do so without any fanfare!  Your rewards await you in Heaven!

I received word last night that Rusty Suthoff’s grandfather is not expected to live.  He lives in the Barton, MS area.  Bro. Jerry sees the doctor today as he continues to have a lot of pain.  I did not get an update on the other folks yesterday but will do so today. 

Liz Cole mentioned in our prayer service last Wednesday night that Gene Davis (Texas) is not doing well physically.  Today is Gene’s birthday so join me in wishing Gene a happy birthday as well as praying for him! 

I received an e-mail from Steve Osborn early this morning sharing that another of the children in their care has gone to be with Jesus.  This makes two in the past few days so please pray for Steve, Shyrel, and all of the folks at Love The Child in Guatemala. 

Pray for the folks in the areas where the tornado activity took place yesterday.  A lot of it was in the greater Memphis area and Deidra called me several times to keep me informed.  Pray for the families who lost loved ones due to these storms. 

A few folks from Faith Baptist of Bartlett, TN are in Guatemala this week making contacts and getting ready for their upcoming trip which will take place in May.  Pray for them. 

Yesterday was dubbed “Super Tuesday” which is an important day related to politics but today is National Signing Day which is an important day too!  (Important enough for one guy to take off work!)  The Arkansas fans (all fourteen of ’em) like Bret Hart are excited because the Razorbacks are supposed to sign a guy who can actually read the scholarship he is signing! 

I heard through the grapevine that Terrell & Marie Brooks celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary yesterday!  Congratulations! 

Today will be a regular Wednesday.  I am not sure where we will be attendance wise as the public schools are still not in session.  I hope those folks in town will join us this morning or tonight.  It is my understanding that children’s choir will meet at 6:00PM today! 

I hope you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus! 

I apologize for not posting an entry yesterday but it was Monday all day long for me!  I had great intentions but. . . .   Yesterday was Hien’s 16th birthday which we actually celebrated last Thursday night with her surprise party. 

Vaughn Womack had a tough weekend but seems to be on the way back up now.  Things are pretty much going just as the doctor had told him they would.  Wendy Johnston remains in the hospital as they cannot get her blood levels correct.  Carla Felps received her first chemo treatment yesterday.  She was scheduled to get one treatment a week for three weeks but they mistakenly gave her the equivalent of three treatments yesterday.  This will work but it just makes life tougher on Carla. Pray for these folks!

Becky Hatcher is leading a crew today that will be making gourmet apples.  In my opinion, no one in the world makes a better gourmet apple than the ladies from Friendship.  There are still some apples available for sale with all of the proceeds going to help defray the cost for our high school or college students taking part in one of our GRACE mission trips this summer.  We could use help today and/or Thursday in the preparation of these apples.

We will begin at 9:00AM unloading a container from Birmingham onto the container located on our back property.  Plans then call for the contents of that container to be shipped to Guatemala in short order.  That’s the plan!  If you can come help us this morning, that will be great! 

Ken Freeman will be with us beginning this Sunday, 2/10.  I had thought that Seraph was going to be here for a couple of those services but there has been a conflict and that isn’t going to happen.  I ask you to pray fervently for these services!

Happy birthday wishes go to Rhea (Rhea, Rhea to me) Wilkinson today as she celebrates number seventeen!  Also, Matt & Ross DeYoung from Michigan are celebrating their 18th birthday today so best wishes to the DeYoung twins too! 

I realize many of you are probably thinking of Morris Bryant & me as American heroes after our dramatic rescue this past weekend but we are just ordinary guys.  My estimates may be off a bit but that bank appeared to be 1,000 feet steep, the water 300 feet deep, and the rapids were racing at 50 miles per hour!  No fanfare please!  LOL!

I hope you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus!     

My nephew, Cody Smallwood, is celebrating his 16th birthday today, 2/3.  Cody is the son of Tony & Melissa (my sister) Smallwood.  Cody, I hope you have a great day!  Roll Tide!

The sweet sixteen birthday party for Hien was both a surprise and a success!  Hien, Lisa and I are very thankful to each person who attended in spite of some really bad weather.  Hien is thankful for the gifts!  It was good to see Hien’s four siblings at the party and her mother came by the house yesterday afternoon.  Hien had a good day! 

There are no significant changes in the hospitalized folks or the ones battling cancer.  Bro. Jerry is sore and has a difficult time getting up from his recliner.  Keep praying for all of these folks and their respective needs. 

Happy birthday today to Marjorie Peacock (??) and Jennifer Wetterer (23)!  Our son-in-law’s mother, Myrna “from Smyrna” Taylor celebrates the big “50” tomorrow and Alia Guidry reaches 18 Sunday!  Best wishes to all of these ladies!  (I mention Myrna & Alia today b/c I won’t post this weekend)

Speaking of 50th birthdays, Laurie Chandler reached that half century mark (sounds old, doesn’t it?) last Sunday.  I am trying to find a larger size font for these entries as she is having some obvious problems reading them! 

All folks with blue eyes are related!  That’s what the Danish researchers are telling us and it all goes back to one guy about 6,000 – 10,000 years ago.  I am going to submit to the belief that we are all related and it goes back to one couple created by God.  (I could save these researchers tons of time and money!) 

Please be kind to Josh Woods this weekend as he is probably in a state of mourning!  Al needs to get to China as they are having the worst winter in decades due to the cold and snow.  Did you read where the guy, 35, drank himself to death?  Too much water consumed too quickly!  (This tidbit was for Mariam Moates!) 

This Sunday will be an interesting one as it is the front weekend of a celebration in Mobile and it is also Super Bowl Sunday.  I encourage all of the members of the Friendship family who are in town this Sunday to be in their rightful place.  Kick off for the game begins at 5:18PM and we are normally out of our evening service around 7:00PM (depends on the length of the music portion of the service).  So, you can attend Discipleship Training and the service without missing any of the second half and maybe catch some of the first half too!

I hope you will have a great weekend with Jesus! 

Bro. Jerry did come home from the hospital late yesterday afternoon.  I will probably go ahead and let him have today off – without pay! 

Carla Felps Kyser is having a port placed in her today in order to begin her chemotherapy treatments on Monday. 

Shannon Young did well in his surgery and came home.  Wendy Johnston continues to need your prayers as does Vaughn Womack. 

Jerry Whitmore did a very nice job of teaching us last night and I appreciate his spirit!  I am a blessed Pastor.

Any person who did not pay their deposit for the GRACE ’08 summer trip or Wild Week but plans on being a part of either of these events needs to contact me personally as soon as possible.  The best way to contact me is by phone at 445-5416 and leave a voice mail which in turn goes directly to my e-mail.  (That is true for anyone trying to reach me by phone as I don’t always check my cell phone voice mails)

I ask all of you to keep praying for the upcoming revival with Evangelist Ken Freeman.  The dates are Sunday, 2/10, through Wednesday, 2/13. 

Our “adopted” daughter, Hien, (pronounced Henny) turns 16 years old Monday, 2/4.  We are hosting a surprise party for her tonight.  T. Garrett, you and Johna are invited as are all of our out of town readers.  Pray for Hien! 

“In this life you shall have tribulations!”  I believe the Bible to be true.  Just found out that Kim French is going on our upcoming GRACE trip.  Why me, Lord?  That thing about not having more placed on you than you can bear is really being tested on this one! 

I hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus.

Bro. Jerry Hovel was on his way to the hospital for his surgery this morning when he was involved in a single vehicle accident on I-10.  He was taken by ambulance to one hospital only to be transferred to a trauma center an hour or so later.  Long story short – he has a broken collar bone and is bruised fairly badly but will be sent home at some point this afternoon.  Thanks to all of those who prayed and to those who went to the hospital to wait in the waiting room with his family. 

Wendy Johnston was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon and the doctor thought she had pneumonia.  However, at 1:00AM this morning they informed her that she has a blood clot in one of her lungs which has broken into three pieces.  She is having some difficulty breathing and is receiving blood thinner by shot.  She will be in the hospital for several more days as they try to prevent any more clots from forming. 

I had an uneventful trip to Montgomery and back and Wilfred was grateful that I attended his mother’s funeral service.  It was a good service. 

The thing that has dominated my thought life and prayer life for the past 24 hours or so has been Carla Felps Kyser’s situation.  The doctor found several spots with activity yesterday which means she is now going to receive six treatments of chemotherapy.  She will begin next Monday, 2/4, going three weeks, taking a week off, and then going three more weeks.  A scan will then be performed to see what is happening and a decision made then as to the next step.  Carla has an upbeat and positive attitude.  I ask you to fervently pray for Carla during these next seven weeks. 

Miss Exie Woods was moved to a rehab center on Monday.  I am not sure how long they anticipate her being there but pray that this will help in the recovery process.  Vaughn Womack continues in his battle against leukemia.  He has finished his first round of treatment and is now in a waiting period but will remain hospitalized during this time.

Shannon Young is having a surgical procedure done today.  As I understand it, they are going to replace his pace maker and defibrillator.  Bro. Kerry will be with him for this surgery. 

Bro. Jerry Hovel is having an outpatient procedure performed today too.  I don’t know if he wants that known but too late now!  Pray for all of these aforementioned needs!

I am leaving fairly early this morning to attend the funeral service for Wilfred Johnson’s mother.  It will take place from the Cornerstone Bible Church in Montgomery, AL.  Jerry Whitmore will fill in for me this morning.  Lord willing, I will be back for the evening Bible studies and service. 

Today is deadline Wednesday.  GRACE ’08 and Wild Week deposits are due as are all orders for the gourmet apples. 

The presidential primaries are nearing the “full swing” mode with super Tuesday rapidly approaching.  Folks in Baldwin & Mobile counties have the unique opportunity to vote today or next Tuesday, 2/5.  I am going to try to vote today just in case something prevents me from doing so next week.  I encourage all registered voters to go vote!  Again, do not take political advice from Josh Woods.  T. Garrett Wright says he is a political guru but I would not feel so comfortable taking his advice either!  LOL!

You need to read Mark Mast’s comment added to yesterday’s entry. 

Pastor Travis, talked to our friend yesterday and we are good to go.  Bret, why you leaving me hanging?  Shari, check your e-mail from last night.  Queen, do something!

Hope you have a great Wednesday with Jesus!