Pastor's Blog

The Lord blessed and we had a wonderful day yesterday in our three services.  It was a joy to baptize Joey Switzer as a part of our second morning service.  The ordination service for Wes Bates was a special time.  What a blessing to be joined by Pastors, Dr. Robbie Howard and Dr. Henry Cox along with twenty-five other men for the ordination council and then to have a nice crowd in attendance for the actual ordination service.  Seeing Miss Kittie Camp present Pastor L.G. Camp, Jr.’s Bible to Wes was a highlight of the service to me.  The fellowship time after the service was great and, once again, our folks came through in a great way as we had a bounty of food.  

A group from the Foothills Fellowship Bible Church of Quitman, Arkansas arrived at the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house this past Saturday and will remain there until next Sunday.  This team is being led by Don Tibbett.  The folks from FFBC have been partnering with us in doing missions for several years now and they take two trips each year.  Pray for them as they do ministry in Guatemala this week. 

On the Mr. Mom front – we are now only twelve hours or so away from “mama” being home.  The bulldozer, front end loader and dump truck should be in and out before she returns so it will all be good! 

Ted Ezell and Winston Etheredge are both having surgery tomorrow so please keep these guys in your prayers. 

I was encouraged by the folks who shared with me yesterday that they reading through the Bible this year.  Today’s reading is Genesis 19 – 21.    

Bret Hart, I will contact you via the phone tomorrow! 

I hope you will have a great Monday with Jesus. 

The American society is messed up!  Earlier this morning I read where an inmate in a Colorado jail has filed a federal lawsuit against the former sheriff, the current sheriff, six guards, and the supervisors of the guards.  The basis for the lawsuit – the sheriff, guards, etc. didn’t do enough to prevent the guy from breaking out of jail!  He was actually injured during a fall as he made one of his attempted break outs.  Wow!

The 2008 Iowa caucus is now history.  I was reading last night how is “better” to lose the caucus than to win it.  What, so a candidate can get first pick in next year’s draft?  I didn’t hear any of the candidates asking folks to vote for the others so I think they all wanted to win! 

Ross & Kathy Genzink and team arrived home safely last night from their week in Guatemala.  Ross was very complimentary of our folks in Guatemala and their service to the Lord.  Thank you for praying for this team.  Thanks to the folks from the CPR of the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church for being involved with GRACE Ministries. 

Our church life really gets back into the normal swing this weekend as we have Upward basketball games tomorrow and then the services Sunday.  Again, we will have the ordination service for Wes Bates at 5:00PM followed by a time of fellowship in the CAB.  We need plenty of food for that fellowship and I have every confidence that our folks will respond nicely to this call. 

My personal life will not be normal this weekend as I am playing Mr. Mom!  Lisa, Deidra, and Daphne are spending the weekend in Chicago with my sister, my two sisters-in-law, and my niece.  They all took flights this morning and are scheduled to return home on Monday.  This is a trip that has actually been years in the making and I am glad to see them have this time together.  

Meanwhile, back at the ranch – pizza tonight, Upward concession stand food tomorrow (all three meals), Sunday breakfast in Sunday School, mother-in-law’s cooking Sunday noon, church fellowship Sunday night, we’ll skip breakfast Monday morning as we have been eating too much, school lunch Monday, and then Lisa will be home Monday night so we can have a late supper that she will cook!  This being Mr. Mom is not so hard after all!   (I have already gotten Hien up, dressed, fed (thanks Jimmy Dean), and out the door for school!) 

Thanks to Pastor Travis Northcutt and T. Garrett Wright for their comments yesterday.  I hope you will have a great Friday with Jesus. 

P.S. – The Bible reading for today is Genesis chapters 10 – 12.     

We  had a good first Wednesday of the new year in our services yesterday and last night.  (I have already heard from some that they didn’t know we were having services yesterday/last night thus the reason for their absence – no comment!)  The Lord blessed our time together and I am grateful for His blessings. 

Our adults continue to study through the book of Romans and yesterday we focused on chapter 13, verses 8 – 10, with most of the focus on 8A – “owe no man anything” as we considered what that means to us.  Warren Wiersbe writes that J. Hudson Taylor, missionary to China, and Charles H. Spurgeon, great preacher of yester year, both took this verse to mean that we should not have any debt so they personally carried no debt.  I think it is a great thing when a person/family/church can be debt free.  As a matter of fact, one of the first things to happen when I became Pastor of the Friendship family was for us to promote “Debt Free By ’93” and it became a reality.  The Lord has honored that and we have been able to perhaps be more involved financially in doing ministry and missions.  The Friendship family presently maintains that debt free standing and we are thankful that God has made this possible for us. 

Our college students/young adults had a lively discussion about this matter.  Basically, they stated that without loans i.e. student, auto, mortgage then they would not have an education, vehicle, or a place to live.  Many of them indicated a strong desire to eventually be debt free but the present circumstances do not make that a reality.

My focus was really on credit card debt and encouraging folks to be wise in this area.  I also realize that when you consistently spend more than you make then you are going to have financial problems.  Credit cards can help that to happen.  The reported credit card debt in America today is 920 billion dollars and that figure is expected to rise to $965 billion by year’s end. 

In your opinion, does “owe no man anything” mean that a person is wrong to incur a debt?  Or does it mean to be timely when paying your debts?  Perhaps some sage i.e. T. Garrett, Mark Mast, Bret Hart, out there in cyberspace can enlighten us. 

FYI – our young adults also discussed the importance of giving to the Lord through the local church.  It didn’t seem to be just “church talk” but was coming from the heart.  I was blessed! 

In our Bible study for the adults we ended by discussing the “but to love one another” and how that fulfills the law.  Love is a verb.  Tom Brady recently said “well done is always better than well said” (I am told that quote originated with Ben Franklin but don’t know that for certain) and is true in our love for one another too.  I pray that they will see our love one for another and then they will know we are disciples of Jesus. 

Scott Older was in our late Bible study last night and asked us to pray for his younger sister, Taylor, who is eight years old.  She is presently in Cincinnati, Ohio at the children’s hospital for some tests. 

Happy birthday wishes go out to Stephanie Guidry today!  She’ll probably get a cake from Anderson’s Bakery!  (It is hard to believe that Diane Bryant has a daughter who is 27 as I was thinking Diane was only 37 or 38 herself) 

Sorry for the extended length of this post.  I hope you will have a great day with Jesus! 

Happy New Year as we begin this second day of 2008!  I was very lazy yesterday as I watched three or four of the bowl games.  No offense to Rick Bradley, Senior or Junior, but I was happy to see Lloyd Carr get a win in his final game as Michigan’s coach.  (I would have also been happy to see Tim Tebow win!) The coaching situation in college athletics has gotten crazy so it was good to see one of the “nice” guys finish first!  I was also glad to see Georgia win last night as I am a fan of Coach Mark Richt.  Did Arkansas win? 

For many of us, today marks the return of “normal” life as work and school resume.  Cottage Hill Academy returns to class today, Faith Academy tomorrow, and the public schools on Monday.  We are back on a regular schedule today with a service this morning at 10:00AM, senior high Bible at 6:00PM, junior high Bible, classes, and prayer meeting at 7:00PM, and our college/young professionals Bible study at 8:00PM. 

Chris Taylor has been looking into some ways to change our blog.  I have been checking out some other blogs in recent weeks and he is trying to incorporate some of those ideas.  I appreciate his efforts.  Hopefully, our entire website design will be changing in the near future.  Stay tuned!

The two brothers who survived the tiger attack in the San Fran zoo on Christmas Day are now reported to be saying their initial calls for help were not taken seriously.  I wonder how many lost folks around us are feeling the same way?  I pray that in 2008 we will take seriously the command to make disciples of all nations and, for us, that begins in South Mobile County. 

I hope a number of you are planning on reading through the Bible in 2008.  If so, chapters 4 – 6 in Genesis would be today’s reading. 

Members of the Friendship family are asked to please note that the ordination service for Wes Bates scheduled for this Sunday, 1/6, will begin at 5:00PM.  We will be joined by the members of the Durant Chapel Baptist Church and we will host a fellowship immediately following that service so we need lots of food! 

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

Wow, in just fifteen hours or so, the year 2007 will be history!  When I was a child I was always told that time seemingly passes quicker the older one gets but I didn’t believe that to be true.  Today, I believe it! 

The year 2007 holds many fond memories for me but none greater than seeing Brad & Daphne unite in marriage on 6/30 and Michael & Deidra do likewise on 8/11.  Lisa and I are blessed to have these new sons-in-law.  I could list many other memories but won’t bore you with them!

There are many wonderful things planned for 2008 beginning with the ordination of Wes Bates this Sunday, 1/6, during our evening service.  Here are some other anticipated highlights – our Upward awards night; Evangelist Ken Freeman being with us 2/10 – 13; Deidra’s seminary graduation; VBS; Wild Week student camp; and our GRACE trips.  That list isn’t meant to be exhaustive but gives you an idea that we are going to have an exciting year (you may not be too excited about Deidra’s graduation but Lisa and I are!) 

Another anticipated highlight for Lisa, the girls, and me will be the construction of our house.  The Friendship family has graciously consented for us to build and we have plans to begin soon.  Lord willing, we will build on the property owned by Lisa’s parents.  Can our marriage survive this? 

As many other pastors probably did yesterday to their church families, I challenged the members of the Friendship family to join me in reading through the entire Bible during 2008.  You may select a plan that works best for you but if you simply want to read straight through then here are the chapter readings for the first week:  1/1 – Genesis 1 – 3; 1/2 – Gen 4 – 6; 1/3 – Gen 7 – 9; 1/4 – Gen 10 – 12; 1/5 – Gen 13 – 15; 1/6 – Gen 16 – 18. 

It was great to have Pastor Abel Garcia, 1st Baptist Freeport, TX, bring the message during our service last night.  I appreciate Pastor Abel & Lynn and the work they are doing in Freeport. 

It appears that we will end 2007 with no one from the Friendship family being hospitalized – praise the Lord!  Edna Holifield’s sister (MS) and Louise Morris’ brother (MO) both are in need of our prayers at this time.  Please continue to pray for Miss Exie Woods, Sarah Thornton, and Sara Nell Moulds (she was in the service last night) as they recover at home. 

I hope you have a great day with Jesus. 

The week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is normally a quiet one and this year is proving no different thus far.  The church office has been open each day except Christmas Day but not much has been happening especially considering that we did not have any services yesterday or last night.  Bro. Jerry is on vacation until next Wednesday but everyone else is on a regular work schedule.  The office will be closed on New Year’s Day too. 

I announced during the Christmas Eve service that Miss Exie Woods was back in the hospital.  That proved to be the wrong information as the doctors decided against admitting her.  However, she is having a procedure done today as she continues to be extremely weak and having physical problems.  Bro. Kerry has gone to wait with the family while this procedure takes place.  Pray for Miss Exie. 

I saw Tom Thornton at the post office yesterday afternoon and learned that Sarah had to undergo an additional surgery.  She is at home mainly because she refused to remain in the hospital any longer.  Pray for Sarah! 

The funeral service for Melanie Byrne, 36, was held this morning at the Daphne United Methodist Church.  Melanie passed away on 12/23 after a lenghty battle with cancer.  She is a friend of Kim French and we have had her name on our prayer list for months.  Pray for her husband, Mark, the daughters, Mallory & Madelyn, and the rest of the family. 

Ross & Kathy Genzink along with 23 others from Michigan are enroute to Guatemala today.  Pray for them to have safety in travel and a blessed week of ministry. 

I hope you have a great day with the Lord! 

I wrote in my last entry that I would blog again on 12/24/07 but, obviously, I did not make that entry.  I basically decided to turn my cell phone off and limit my time on the computer during these days as we have focused on the birth of Christ. 

This has been a different Christmas season for my family but one we have enjoyed immensely.  Lisa wanted to spend this Christmas at home since we now have two sons-in-law.  We enjoyed an immediate family time on Sunday night and then joined Lisa’s parents, her sister Kim & husband, Gary, and Buddy Jones for our annual Christmas Eve family gathering.  Michael & Deidra and Brad & Daphne spent the night with us on Christmas Eve and we celebrated Christmas Day as a family by just hanging around the house, eating, playing board games & cards, taking a nap, and eating!  We have enjoyed a good few days together as a family.  I thank God for my wife, our five daughters, and our two sons-in-law. 

We had two good services this past Sunday and an excellent service on Monday evening.  I am thankful to God for His blessings during these services.  What a joy to see Traci Holifield make a public profession of faith desiring baptism during our second service Sunday morning.  Thanks to our student choir and Rebecca Mang for providing the vocals during our Christmas Eve service and to our instrumentalists for their special.  I believe Jesus was exalted during that service. 

I have to say a huge “thank you” to Rhett Butler, Brad Hutto, Dewayne Lavelle, and TJ Vice for their help on Christmas Eve morning as they unloaded and reloaded the container.  Deidra and Hien gave a late assist too.  We were looking for 21 boxes containing the school uniforms for Casa Aleluya and finally found them.  They will be shipped to Tennessee today and then taken to Guatemala next week as school begins on 1/15/08. 

Ross & Kathy Genzink are leading a group of 25 from the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church in Holland, MI to Guatemala to do mission work.  They leave for Detroit late this afternoon and then fly out tomorrow and return next Thursday, 1/3.  Ross & Kathy are the only two in this group who have ever been to Guatemala so this should be a neat experience.  Our staff in Guatemala has done a good job in getting ready for them and are eagerly anticipating helping them during their time in Guatemala. 

I remind the members of the Friendship family that we will have two worship services this Sunday, 12/30, – 10:30AM & 5:00PM. 

Please pray for my dad, Charles Turrentine, as he has a pretty severe case of the shingles on his left leg.  He missed our family gathering this past Saturday due to this illness.  Those of you who have had shingles can feel his pain.  Your prayers are appreciated. 

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

We had a good day yesterday in our services and we are thankful for the Lord’s blessings.  That marked the last Wednesday that we will meet in 2007 as we will not have any services/Bible studies/classes next Wednesday, 12/26.  However, we will resume a normal schedule on Wednesday, 1/2/08. 

I spoke too soon yesterday about members of the Friendship family not being in the hospital.  Sarah Thornton was admitted to the hospital with an infection which, I am assuming, has to do with her recent surgery.  Pray for Sarah.

Lisa, the girls, Buddy Jones, and I will leave late this morning, Lord willing, to drive to Hartselle, AL for my extended family’s Christmas gathering which will take place on Saturday.  Michael & Deidra will join us tomorrow while Brad & Daphne will do the same tomorrow night.  My brother from China found out at basically the last minute that he can’t come home but the rest of us should be there and I am looking forward to it.  We will return home Saturday night in order to be in the services Sunday morning. 

I probably will not make another entry into this blog until Monday, 12/24, unless something happens that needs to be shared with the members of the Friendship family.  I hope you and your family will be in church this Sunday and I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus. 

A Santa had a huge scare this past Sunday.  He was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil flying via helicopter to a children’s party when his aircraft was shot down as it flew over an area known for illegal drug use.  Police sometimes raid the area using helicopters and it appears this was a case of mistaken identity.  Everyone was okay and the Santa arrived at the party a little later via an automobile.  Whew!  Maybe he should have used the sleigh!

Happy birthday to Sharon Jardee!  Sharon has had a bit of a tough go lately with her knee and is probably looking at knee replacement surgery.  She is an integral part of our FAITH ministry as she serves as the secretary.  How old is she today?  More than 20 and less than 100!  Happy birthday Sharon! 

We are blessed by the fact that we presently do not have any members of the Friendship family hospitalized.  We have some folks recovering at home from hospital stays but everyone seems to be doing well.  Praise the Lord! 

I read an interesting story about a man from New Hampshire who attended his first Pittsburg Steelers football game this past Sunday.  He has been a Steelers fan for many years and always wanted to attend a game.  His wife granted his wish and “took” him to the game last Sunday as they hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Steelers lost the game.  However, I don’t think the man really cared as he passed away last March!  His body was cremated and his wife took the urn containing some of his ashes with her to the game.  (I would be the guy seated next to the lady and she would ask me something like, “I need to go to the ladies room, would you watch my husband while I am gone?”)  Wow! 

We are on a regular schedule today with our morning & evening services, Bible studies, and mission classes.  I hope to see the members of the Friendship family there! 

I apologize for not entering a post yesterday and I really don’t know what happened.  The day began busily and before I knew it the day was over.  It definitely wasn’t one of my better days as it began with me having to restrain our dog, Lucky, because he kept digging under the fence.  He was/is not a happy camper and I don’t think he is going to send me a Christmas card this year.  However, the 95 or so church members he jumped on and knocked down will probably be glad that “Clifford” isn’t coming their way anymore!  My day kind of just went down hill from there and has led to a long, sleepless night for me.  Oh well, there is always hope for tomorrow! 

Sunday was a blessed day for the Friendship family.  The adult choir did a nice job of leading us in worship during the evening service as they presented the “Canticle of Christmas.”  I appreciate the many hours of preparation they put into that musical.

This is a busy week as the elementary children in the public schools are taking another round of CRT’s and we are having Upward basketball games each night except Wednesday.  This will allow us to be off this Saturday and I appreciate Bro. Benny working so tirelessly to make this happen. 

I read a couple of interesting stories on the internet and both involved automobile accidents.  One lady in Texas was a passenger in a vehicle and was declared dead by the EMT’s and had her body appropriately covered to indicate such.  However, when someone from the medical examiner’s office arrived, they found her to be alive.  (I thought of the “90 Minutes in Heaven” book)  She was taken to the hospital and is listed in critical condition. 

The other situation involved a lady who was involved in an accident in California.   Her son was taken to a hospital but she was not removed from the car.  This happened on Saturday and on Sunday someone from the family mentioned that two folks were in the car.  They went to the towing company’s yard and found the lifeless body of the 72 years old woman.  An autopsy is being performed to determine the exact time of death.  Amazing! 

The University of Michigan finally got a football coach.  Ross, I only have one question.  One of the news reports stated that the coach and his entourage toured the locker room using a flashlight for illumination – do they not have electricity in the big house? 

I hope you have a great Tuesday with Jesus.