Pastor's Blog

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.”  (Jeremiah 33:3)

My only focus in this post is to ask you to join me in praying for Samuel Acan as he appears before the US Embassy representative today.  Pray the he will be granted his visa.  I appreciate Bro. Johnny Tucker going with him and Soy driving them.  His appointment time is 1:30PM (Guatemala time) and I should be able to post the results here by 3:30 – 4:00PM Central time.  Pray!

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine anger is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.”  (Psalm 39:5)

We enjoyed a blessed day yesterday in all of our services.  Miracle of miracles, we actually had folks show up for the 8:00AM to hear me preach all the while knowing that Shaun Alexander would be speaking in the 10:30AM service.  What a blessing to see four folks accept Jesus as their personal Savior during the 10:30AM service.  God is good and we give Him the glory!

My first impression of Shaun & Valerie Alexander is a very good one!  He is doing a good work for the Lord!  I appreciate him being willing to come to Friendship to share with us.  Thanks to Coach Ronnie Cottrell and Chris Taylor for arranging everything.  Thanks to Lisa & Ann for preparing the meal. 

The Friendship family now has a budget in place for the 8/1/09 – 7/31/10 fiscal year.  Thanks to the members of the Finance Committee for their diligent work and thanks to those who came to the discussion meeting. 

John Meredith, Jerry Whitmore, & Raymond Wilkinson were elected to serve as deacons for three years beginning 8/1/09 and ending 7/31/12.  I appreciate all six men who were nominated and look forward to what God is going to do in the years ahead. 

We delayed affirming the work of the Nominating Committee until this Wednesday, 7/15. 

Vera Bosarge’s brother, Mose Vesper, is hospitalized.  Miss Joyce Bosarge is still having pain.  Gerald Poiroux was in our service last night.  Miss Lillian Brinkman is finished with her physical therapy but is still having problems.  Don Loveless passed away Saturday night but I don’t know those arrangments.  Pray for these folks. 

Tomorrow is a big day for GRACE Ministries and Samuel Acan.  Bro. Johnny Tucker will take him to the US Embassy in Guatemala City for an appointment to receive his travel visa.  I ask you pray especially at 1:30PM (Guatemala time) tomorrow.  We are asking God to allow Samuel to receive his visa.  I appreciate those who have helped in this process thus far and those who are praying!  I will post here once I know the results tomorrow. 

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

Rodney Fields, from Moulton, AL, and a member of Danville Baptist Church entered heaven yesterday morning after a long battle with cancer.  He was 41 years old.  The visitation with the family will be tonight and the funeral service tomorrow afternoon.  Pray for Rodney’s family during this time of sorrow. 

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  (Matthew 7:13-14)

This Sunday, 7/12, is going to be a busy and important day in the life of the Friendship family.  First, we will host Shaun & Valerie Alexander in our 10:30AM service.  I am hearing that we are going to have a nice crowd for that service.  I encourage folks to attend! 

Second, our Finance Committee has completed their work on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.  Copies will be available following the morning services and a discussion meeting will take place at 4:00PM.  This will be the time to amend or change the proposed budget.  A vote will then be taken on the proposed budget during the evening service with no further discussion. 

Third, our Nominating Committee will present their initial report on Sunday evening for the church’s affirmation. 

Fourth, six men have been nominated to serve as a deacon for the next three years and the Friendship family will elect three of those men this Sunday evening.  Pray and come vote as the Lord leads.  These six men understand that being elected means fulfilling the obligation to the Lord and the church family to serve for three years. 

One of our Fab Five has taken sick.  Please pray for Pam Baker as she spent yesterday in the bed.  I don’t think she is near unto death but she does need our prayers.  JoNell Barnes did well through her surgery yesterday but keep praying for her. 

Bro. Johnny’s team arrived at the mission house yesterday afternoon safe and sound.  I assume the West Mobile folks arrived home safely as well.  Pray for the IMA team as they minister this week. 

This Sunday, 7/12, marks 29 years of marriage for Lisa & me.  I am a blessed man! 

Jack Bailey, Jack Ciak, Michael Mason, et cetera are all the same – they never update their respective blogs/journals.  I really don’t understand why they are charging Jack Bailey for his blogs because they aren’t worth a plug nickel!  (Does anyone out there even know what a plug nickel is?)  Rumor has it that Jack Bailey is seriously considering moving to Ohio! 

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

“….for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.” (Hosea 14:9)

Wednesday was good!  It felt really good to be back at Soy & Deidra’s house for our 8:00PM Bible study.  We had a house full.  Many thanks to my wife, Lisa, and Melissa Brown for taking care of the food. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good day in all of our worship services.  I so appreciate the folks who attend church on Wednesdays! 

JoNell Barnes is having surgery this morning.  Cameron Watson came home.  Phil Sims may have a staph infection.  Joyce Bosarge is taking radiation treatments on her shoulder.  Max Peacock got a good report yesterday.  Keep praying for all of the folks battling cancer. 

The women’s ministry will host a meeting tonight at 6:30PM in th fellowship hall.  All ladies are cordially invited to attend! 

Pray that Samuel Acan will receive favor with the US Embassy officials next Tuesday, 7/14, and receive his visa to travel to the United States.  Bro. Johnny Tucker will go with him to the Embassy – that could be a mistake! 

Speaking of Bro. Johnny, his team left for Guatemala this morning as the West Mobile Baptist team is returning home today.  We have had a good summer thus far.  Keep praying for Louise & the fab five. 

Spread the word about Shaun Alexander being in our 10:30AM service this Sunday, 7/12.  Pray that we will have an anointed service. 

Mark the date of Sunday evening, 8/2, on your calendar and make plans to be present at 5:00PM for a special service.  Pastor Mel Hacker will be preaching at 5:00PM and Pastor Bob Harvey will be preaching at 6:00PM.  April McNiel & Jaclyn Weaver will be leading our musical worship in both of those services.  I believe this is going to be an awesome evening! 

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

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”  (Proverbs 30:5)

Camron Watson did well in his surgery even though it took longer than anticipated.  Also, they had a difficult time getting the needle in to start his IV.  He should come home today.

Miss Joyce Bosarge began having some problems/pain with her shoulder.  It is related to her cancer and they have begun a new series of radiation treatments on that area.  Pray for her.

David Bosarge’s mother had surgery yesterday (I think) and Vera’s brother is in the hospital too.  David & Vera were supposed to leave driving to Colorado yesterday but I don’t know if they have left due to these aforementioned situations. 

Continue to pray for Carla Kyser, Gloria Morrison, Rodney in North Alabama, and all others who are battling cancer.  Pray also for the Fab Five & Louise, the West Mobile Baptist team leaving Guatemala tomorrow, and the IMA (Bro. Johnny Tucker’s team) arriving in Guatemala tomorrow. 

Shaun Alexander, former NFL MVP and Alabama football star, will be at the Grand Bay Middle School tonight beginning at 6:00PM.  He, and his wife, Valerie, will then be in our 10:30AM service this Sunday, 7/12.  Pass the word!

We will have a “regular” Wednesday today with the morning service and all of the evening activities.  Our 8:00PM Bible study group will move back to Soy & Deidra’s house.  Someone in that group please put that on MyFace!  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will continue to be faithful. 

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

Here is the e-mail from Mark & Tina Mast which was received on July 4:

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign upon the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

Good Tuesday morning!  I am about to get ready to leave for Cameron Watson’s surgery.  He will be having surgery on his jaw and this will require at least one night in the hospital.  Pray for Cameron as he goes through this procedure and then the recovery. 

We continue to be blessed by not having anyone else in the hospital.  We do have those battling cancer and I would ask that you pray for each of them.  As a matter of fact, I would appreciate an update from the various folks within our church family who are battling cancer.  You can send that to my e-mail address at pastor@friendshipfamily.net. 

It’s a boy!  That’s our story and we are sticking to it!  So, Lord willing, come December we will have a grandson!  We are grateful!  Now, if I can just convince Brad to change his last name to Turrentine! 

Please pray for our missionary friends, Mark & Tina Mast, as they lead two weeks of camp in Canada.  They lead very busy lives during the summer.  By the way, Miriam Mast graduated high school in late June and had the highest GPA in her class.  Congratulations are in order and even more so when one considers that she finished a year early.  She will be going to Moody in Chicago this Fall.  That Miriam is a sweetheart! 

Our friend, Samuel Acan, has an appointment at the US Embassy next Tuesday to apply for his visa in order to travel to the States.  Would you pray for him that the official he appears before would be gracious and allow him to receive his visa?  He would love to travel to the States. 

Speaking of travel documents, T. Garrett has been diligently helping us get a Vietnamese passport for Hien.  I appreciate his efforts!  Of course, for the amount he is charging us, he should be diligent!  LOL!

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

“And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”  (Matthew 28:18-20)

It was a real joy to be back with the Friendship family in the services yesterday.  God blessed and we had a good day.  It was a joy to welcome Will & Amy Reynolds into the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  It was good to have Wes & Rebekah Bates in our 10:30AM service and a also to have our the DOM for the MBA, Thomas Wright. 

A team from West Mobile Baptist is presently using the mission house and they will be joined today by Terry Stephan and Pastor Clint Presley from Dauphin Way Baptist.  Bro. Johnny Tucker’s team is set to arrive this Thursday, 7/9.  Pray for these respective teams. 

Cameron Watson is scheduled to have surgery in the morning.  I believe this will require at least a one night’s stay in the hospital.  Pray for Cameron. 

We are set to elect three men to serve as deacons.  That election will take place this Sunday night, 7/12.  I will list the nominees once they have all been confirmed.  Pray. 

After considerable prayer & thought, we have decided to delay the beginning of our Hispanic ministry until the first weekend in August.  So, our fiesta will take place on 8/1 and the first service on 8/2 at 2:00PM.  Thanks for your understanding and please pray for this ministry. 

I know Pastor Jack Bailey is excited that the world champion Lakers are set to add Ron Artest to their stable of athletes. 

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

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”  (Psalm 33:12)

It is unusual for me to post on a Saturday and even more unusual for me to post on a Saturday night.  However, it has been 17 days since I lasted posted on this blog and I just decided to send a few words. 

All of our GRACE ’09 III team members arrived home safe & sound on Thursday afternoon/evening.  We had several who were sick as they left Guatemala but I believe they are all on the mend.  It seems that someone perhaps took something viral with them and it was passed among the SC team members.  The TN folks didn’t get sick.  One young lady, Penny, was the most severe of all those affected and she was to see a doctor yesterday. 

Basically, I have done nothing since arriving home except rest, read, eat, and study.  Tony & Dawn Hacker had mowed our lawn along with Soy & Deidra’s too so that allowed me to stay inside.  Man, this heat is something else!  It is hard coming back to this heat/humidity after two weeks in the land of eternal Spring! 

The Lord has blessed and we presently don’t have anyone in the hospital.  Pray for those who are battling cancer. 

We will be having our regular schedule of services tomorrow.  I hope that each member of the Friendship family who is in town will join us for Sunday School, Discipleship Training, and the worship services.  I look forward to being with my church family!