Pastor's Blog

After Al Gore invented the internet, he moved on to the global warming scene.  Yesterday afternoon while I was mowing the lawn at my in-law’s, I began to think that maybe Al is right.  It was almost eighty degrees on the 13th of December and I am cutting grass – what’s up with that?  (Hopefully, the weather guys are right and by Sunday it will be much cooler here)  By the way, Ann cooked supper for me and Charles agreed to sell me some pecans.  He is getting $2 a pound and, since I mowed his lawn, he agreed to let me have five pounds for $10.50!   

Did you read/see/hear where that burned body was found in a garden near Paris?  It appears a guy had stowed away in the landing gear of a jet and fell out.  Wow!

Jennifer Wetterer graduates from Troy University this morning.  Sharon Chandler graduates from Auburn University Montgomery tomorrow morning.  (I normally don’t recognize those AU schools but I’m making an exception for Laurie!)  Congratulations to Jennifer, Sharon and all of our December graduates i.e. Brandon Baker, Lindsey Hatcher, & Erin Shepherd come to mind but I am sure that I am leaving someone off that list. 

Speaking of Lindsey Hatcher, that teacher wannabe seemed to think I had made some spelling mistakes in yesterday’s entry but I went back to check it and it all looked corrict to me!  They get engaged and totally forget that love is blind! 

Speaking of Jennifer, I am told that today is the birth date of Jennifer Jackson Davis.  Happy birthday Jennifer! 

I hope you have a great weekend and that you will be in church on Sunday.  Christians should fill the church auditoriums as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good Wednesday in our various services, Bible studies, and classes.  From all reports, the Christmas party at the convalescent home went well too. 

We are good to go as far as folks being in the hospital right now.  We continue to pray for those who are recovering at home. 

Lori Breedlove Bailey gave birth to a set of twins yesterday afternoon.  They checked in weighing five pounds and five pounds and nine ounces respectively.  Mother, son, and daughter are doing fine as is daddy – Joe David Bailey.  These are the newest grandchildren for Pastor Jack & June Bailey of Danville Baptist and of the late Dwight Breedlove and Jennifer Breedlove.  Congratuations to Joe David and Lori! 

Speaking of giving birth, you ever wondered why pregnant women don’t fall forward since they are carrying some much weight out front?  I haven’t but some scientists obviously did so they conducted a study on the matter.  Their conclusion?  Women and men are built differently (must have been rocket scientists) in their lower back and hips with women being built in such a way that they can carry the extra weight without falling forward.  The reason?  Evolution noted the need and made a slight change in the female’s body structure.  Please!  If only God could have seen this then perhaps He could have created us!  We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” as an awesome Creator (God) created us in His image!  I could have saved those scientists a lot of money and time! 

T. Garrett, your grandmother is not a happy camper with you! 

Hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus.

Mark Mast sent an update on Lou Ricci.  She failed a stress test yesterday which means she will now be moved to Winnipeg where they will insert a stent(s) or do heart by-pass surgery.  Keep Lou and Don on your prayer list. 

Mark also noted something that I inadvertently left out of an e-mail to our most recent GRACE trip participants.  I listed some things that had been done but failed to mention that more than one VBS was conducted by our team.  Those were absolutely great ministry opportunities and the folks who prepared for and led them did an outstanding job – especially in the area of arts & crafts.  So, forgive my mistake and know that God certainly has record of your ministry to those children.  Thank you for giving to the Lord!

I had the opportunity yesterday to spend an hour or so with our senior adults at their annual Christmas party.  The food was good, the fellowship was even better, but the best part was watching them play dirty Santa!  We have some good senior saints! 

The internet allows me to read some interesting stuff such as forty McDonalds restaurants (you decide if McDonalds is a restaurant or not) in England are issuing fines to folks who take too long to eat!  I have never been to England but apparently you can go through the drive-thru and then sit in the parking lot to eat your food.  You now have forty-five minutes to finish your meal and move on or you are fined $225.  I know some folks who would be in trouble! 

Well Bret Hart, Arkansas finally did get a coach but if his track record is any indicator then don’t plan on his being around too long.  He is a proven coach and should do well for the half season he is there calling the Hogs! 

Ross Genzink, what’s up with Michigan not hiring a coach already?  Could it be that no one really wants to coach in the Little Eleven Conference? 

Speaking of Ross, today is Ryan Genzink’s 22nd birthday!  Happy birthday, Ryan!  (It seems to me that today is Heath Tucker’s birthday too but I may be wrong on that one – I do know he has a December birthday) 

It is Wednesday so for me that means the two services in the auditorium, senior high Bible study, and the young adults Bible study.  It also means junior high Bible study, mission friends, RA’s, & GA’s.  Tonight it means the annual Christmas party at the convalescent home which is sponsored by the folks who lead our ministry there.  What a great ministry! 

I hope you have a great Wednesday serving Jesus!

When I made an entry this morning, I was unaware that Exie Woods and Sarah Thornton had both been discharged from the hospital.  That is good news!  Sorry for providing wrong information!

Please continue to pray for Exie Woods, Sarah Thornton, and Lou Ricci as they remained hospitalized.  I am praying that they will all get to go home at some point this week. 

Folks who are involved in our Upward basketball ministry need to note that the games scheduled for Saturday, 12/22, have been moved to the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday preceding that Saturday.  Bro. Benny has worked very hard to accommodate everyone and feels this may be the best case scenario with the fewest conflicts.  Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated! 

Our Convalsecent Home ministry will host their annual Christmas party tomorrow evening beginning at 6:00PM.  If you haven’t brought your gift to the church yet, please do so before noon tomorrow.  Thanks!  All members of the Friendship family are invited to attend this special party.

We will be on a normal schedule for the next two Wednesdays and this Sunday too.  Our adult choir will present their cantata this Sunday evening beginning at 6:00PM.

I sent a poll to the folks who participated on our just completed GRACE trip and was wanting a response by tomorrow.  To date, there has been one response from Michigan, one from Canada, and two from Alabama.  If you were on that trip and read this blog, please reply. 

Speaking of GRACE trips, we have a full trip for February but could still take a few folks from Alabama.  If interested, contact me yesterday! 

I hope you will have a great day with Jesus!  Remember, He is the Reason for the season!

Sorry this entry is late but it has been a Monday all day long!  Thanks for understanding!

Today is a special day in the Turrentine household as we celebrate “adoption day!”  It was nine years ago today that Judge Red Noonan issued the order that allowed us to “officially” become the parents of Gina & Dana.  Of course, we have had them in our care for basically their entire lives (thanks to Wayne & Wanda Garner) but it became official on this day.  Lisa, Deidra, Daphne, & I are very grateful to our Heavenly Father for allowing us to be a part of Gina & Dana’s  lives – we are blessed! 

Exie Woods and Sarah Thornton remained hospitalized and will most likely be there for a few more days.  Sara Nell Moulds continues to rehab at home and is doing well.  Lou Ricci (Canada) was moved from ICU last night so she is making progress in her recovery too. 

Yesterday was a good day for us in our services.  It was special last night to sing “happy birthday” to Buddy & Craig (if only Kim French could have been there too!) and thanks for generously giving to their offering – those guys received $225 each!  (Several others have since shared their date of birth with me!)  Wow! 

We focused on John the Baptist in our services yesterday morning and last night.  I continue to be amazed that Jesus stated that “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”   May we be found faithful in doing the Father’s Will! 

I was saddened to learn of the killings in Colorado yesterday at the mission training center and the church.  Tragic!  Pray for those families! 

I hope you have a great evening with Jesus!

You can read the comment from yesterday’s post regarding Lou Ricci to see that she is doing well – all things considered.  Please continue to pray for Lou & Don. 

Miss Exie Woods had strep throat but that is no longer her problem.  It appears that she will be in the hospital for several days as they battle low blood pressure and a low heart rate. 

Sarah Nell Moulds should come home from the hospital today as she is doing well following her knee replacement surgery.

Sarah Thornton remains hospitalized and will probably be in the hospital for a few more days.  She was asleep when I visited yesterday morning so I really don’t have a definitive word.

Coma Hoven, cousin of Marie Brooks, passed away this week and his visitation/funeral will take place in Jackson, AL today.  Pray for that family.

Upward basketball begins this morning at 8:00AM and ends tonight around 8:00PM.  Pray for Bro. Benny and all those involved. 

Hope to see each member of the Friendship family in his/her respective place tomorrow. 

Missionary Mark Mast from Canada sent me an e-mail this morning to tell me that Lou Ricci, wife of Don Ricci, had a “very serious heart attack” last night.  Don was in Winnipeg so Lou called Mark around 11:00PM saying she felt terrible.  Mark went to her home and found her in a semi-conscious state.  He rushed her to the hospital and they have now transported her to a hospital in Fort Frances where she is in stable condition but will remain in intensive care for possibly several days.  Don arrived at the hospital during the night. 

Don & Lou were a part of our June ’07 GRACE team led by Bro. Jerry.  Don was a part of the GRACE team that just returned on 11/30.  Good folks and good supporters of GRACE Ministries.  Please pray for Lou’s healing, for the medical personnel giving care to Lou, for Don to find God’s grace sufficient during these days, and for Mark to have wisdom as he ministers to this family. 

I will post updates as they become available.  Thank you for your prayers!

Pearl Harbor Day – a day that always serves as a reminder to me to be thankful for our military personnel.  Tough days that demanded a tremendous sacrifice by so many Americans – in the military and at home.  Why don’t you take a moment today and thank God for those who have served in the military and those who are presently serving.

Wow, December is supposed to be a slow month regarding hospitalizations, surgeries, et cetera but we are having a run right now.  Miss Exie Woods was admitted to the hospital yesterday with strep throat and dehydration and Sarah Thornton had emergency surgery last night.  (Thanks to Bro. Jerry for covering that one)  Sara Nell Moulds remains hospitalized and began physical therapy yesterday (that was the roar you heard about 9:00AM).  She is supposed to come home tomorrow. 

On a positive note, Rachel Long did come home from the hospital yesterday.  The doctor has ordered no school attendance until after the Christmas break.  You can imagine how that made an eleven years old girl feel! 

Also, I received word yesterday that the doctors at M.D. Anderson found no cancer in Blake Stokes body – praise the Lord! 

Speaking of miracles – I actually did my Christmas shopping for Lisa yesterday!  That means I am exactly eighteen days ahead of schedule.  I had to go to Sam’s Club for the church anyway and figured that I might as well kill two birds with one stone (no offense to the folks from PETA – just a figure of speech).  I hope she likes that slicer dicer – just like the one shown on television!  Now I have just got to figure out what I am going to do on Christmas Eve day!  I am calling out Benny McGath, Morris Bryant, Deacon Dewayne, Deacon Dirk, Kerry Woods, Larry Whitehurst, Sonny Bates, et cetera to get with the program as far as this Christmas shopping for your wife is concerned!  (Slicer dicer = $19.95 at Sam’s Club and it works or your money back!)

We need those gifts for the convalescent home residents by this Sunday, 12/9. 

This Sunday evening, 12/9, we are going to receive a special offering for two of our favorite church members.  One had a birthday on 11/16 and the other is having a birthday today, 12/7.  It will be a surprise to them so don’t mention it but do come prepared to help them celebrate.  Thanks to those who have reminded me of this ministry opportunity! 

I hope you will have an awesome Friday with the Lord! 

We continue to study the book of Romans on Wednesdays and yesterday we looked at chapter 12, verses 13 – 16.  We spent a good deal of time on verse thirteen discussing what it means to “distribute to the necessity of the saints” and being “given to hospitality.”  This season of the year provides the opportunity to minister to the needs of fellow Christians and to pursue friendliness with strangers i.e. angels unaware?  I encourage you to look for those opportunities. 

Sara Nell Moulds did well through her surgery and will now be in the hospital for a few days.  Rachel Long hopes to be discharged from the hospital today.  I am hearing that Blake Stokes continues to get good reports from the doctors at M.D. Anderson.  Last night, we were asked to pray for Tom Russell, a teacher at Faith Academy, who is also at M.D. Anderson this week being evaluated. 

Bro. Kerry and our senior saints are scheduled to return home at some point today.  Pray for their safety in travel. 

Our senior high students will have a “game night” tomorrow night from 7:00 – 10:00PM in the student ministry building and CAB.  Y’all come! 

We will receive a special offering for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions this Sunday.  I ask the members of the Friendship family to join us in reaching/exceeding our goal.  Please use the GA post office to send Christmas cards to fellow members of the Friendship family. 

Folks who “adopted” a resident at the GBCH for Christmas need to bring those gifts to the church no later than this Sunday, 12/9, as the party takes place next Wednesday, 12/12. 

Today is my father-in-law’s birthday so best wishes to Charles for a great day.  I only know that he is older than me and that he will outlive me in order to keep me out of his will!  Happy birthday Charles! 

I hope you will have a great Thursday with Jesus!