Pastor's Blog

They say “no news is good news” and I hope that applies to the folks from, and associated with, the Friendship family in regards to sicknesses.  I have no updates today.

Soy & Samuel have spent the past couple of days in the Memphis, TN area.  If you check out “The Adventures with Samuel” on Soy’s Facebook then you will see they are having a good time.  I appreciate Bret, Donald, Tom, Pastor Danny, Pastor Ryan, and all the others who hosted Samuel – I wish I could have joined them at Corky’s!  Also, thanks to Curtis & Myrna “from Smyrna” for being gracious hosts to Samuel.

I mentioned Samuel’s schedule yesterday.  Two dates have now been spoken for – Teddy Ray & Rachel are hosting him for dinner this Sunday and Terry Stephan is hosting him for supper/church next Wednesday, 8/26. 

I gotta give some more props – Mitchel Fox, Carl Ray Moulds, Will Reynolds, Ralph Rimmer III, Tony Tripp, & TJ Vice gave of their time & talents last night to work at the new Sav-A-Life location doing demolition work.  Wow, those guys can tear some stuff up in a hurry!  Tony is da man! 

I am now asking for all available men & women to join us this Thursday morning from 8:30/9:00AM until noon doing the same thing.  I am going to “suggest” that our other three full time staff members join us too plus Soy & Samuel.  My hope is for at least 20 folks!  If you can join us, please let me know either this morning or tonight.  Here’s the kicker – Lisa & I will treat all participants to breakfast at Dick Russells at 7:30AM.  Folks need to bring hammers, crow bars, flat shovels, wheelbarrows, screw drivers, saws all, et cetera.  We need folks who can simply pick up sheetrock and throw it in a dumpster.  This is a great way to show your pro-life position! 

One of our Pentecostal friends commented on yesterday’s blog – please!  Honestly, Soy cut maybe 1/96 of our yard.  He was at it all of about 3 minutes.  I was just trying to be kind! 

Dr. Tico tells me that they fully expect 250 participants for this year’s pastors’ conference.  We need scholarships and this year we will be accepting outside donations.  A full scholarship is $60.  Give as the Lord leads.  Contact me if you need more information. 

This entry has been too long.  We are on a regular schedule today.  Don’t forget Samuel’s surprise party tomorrow night at 6:30PM. 

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

Brian Whitmore, son of Jerry & Gloria Whitmore, was admitted to the hospital over the weekend.  He has an infection that has to be cleared up before they can remove his gall bladder.  So, it appears they will do surgery this Friday.  Pray for him. 

The Lord blessed us with a good weekend.  What a joy to baptize Kyle Douglas, Polly Kearns, & Lindsey Vice as a part of our evening worship service.  What a joy to see our second year of the AWANA ministry begin – thanks to those who are helping in this ministry. 

The Sav-A-Life ministry in Mobile is opening in a new location.  Terry Stephan and Dauphin Way Baptist are doing the demolition work on the interior of the existing building.  Tonight, 8/18, I will be taking a team of guys to help with this project.  We plan on being there at 5:00PM and working until 8:00PM.  If you want to join us and need more info, give me a call at 445-5416.  If I don’t answer, let me a message and I will call you back. 

Samuel Acan’s 57th birthday is this Thursday, 8/20.  We are going to have a “surprise” party for him in the fellowship hall from 6:30 – 8:00PM.  No gifts required but a card basket will be available.  All members of the Friendship family are invited to join us for this celebration. 

Speaking of Samuel, he is presently in Tennessee as I wanted him to see the good (Alabama), the not so good (Michigan), and the bad (Tennessee) of the United States.  He returns to GB tomorrow.  Some of you have asked about hosting Samuel in your home for a meal.  This Friday, 8/21, through Wednesday, 8/26, are available.  First come, first served. 

Gotta give props where props are due – Tony & Dawn Hacker have been so very kind to take us fishing during the snapper season.  We had a great day this past Friday in spite of some rough waters in the morning.  (To be honest, Les Hacker & I carried the others but that is another story in itself) 

Soy, yes Soy, came over late Saturday afternoon and helped me finish mowing our yard.  I was tired and his help was a welcome relief.  Does he want something? 

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

Willie Johnson had one of  his knees scoped this past Tuesday as he had a tear that needed repair.  It went well but he was in a lot of pain/discomfort yesterday.  He is supposed to be down for about ten days or so.  Pray for him.

Samuel arrived back in Grand Bay yesterday only to leave again.  He and I met Derrick & Jodie in Slidell, LA where they took him home with them to New Orleans.  He will be there until tomorrow night.  He then leaves Sunday afternoon bound for Memphis, TN for a few days. 

We have one!  I received an e-mail from one of our blog readers saying they would like to scholarship a pastor the upcoming conference.  If only the other 11 readers will step up and follow this lead then we will only need 188 more.  Out of towners can send their donations to my attention at P.O. Box 756 Grand Bay, AL 36541-0756.  Checks should be made payable to Friendship Baptist Church.  Members of the Friendship family can give through the Sunday offerings. 

For me, today is Bret Hart day!  I am joining Tony, Dawn, Leslie & Daniel Hacker along with John Milton Ladnier  on a deep sea fishing trip.  Red snapper season ends tomorrow.  Tony tells me we are going at least 45 miles out.  I plan on it being a good day as Soy isn’t going so I won’t have to worry with baiting his hook and taking off his one fish! 

Why Bret Hart day?  Bret loves to go deep sea fishing so I am doing this in his honor!  It is the least I can do!  I guess it could be Louise Mason day too! 

We are scheduled for a regular Sunday this weekend with the addition of baptism during our evening service.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in attendance for Bible study and the worship services. 

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

I always enjoy bringing Wednesdays to a close with 30 or so young adults.  Last night, there were 28 of them gathered at Soy & Deidra’s for Bible study.  However, I am concerned about some of them (they know who they are) who cannot stay up until 9:15PM for Bible study.  They have to work on Thursdays – who doesn’t? 

Ralph Rimmer does a really good job of leading our musical worship on Wednesday nights and I appreciate it.  Soy bought a new television but he didn’t let us use it to display the words of the songs.  Said something about it uses too much electricity! 

Speaking of buying televisions, Best Buy was offering a 52 inch tv for $9.99 on their website yesterday morning – oops!  They sold several but the actual price was $1,799.  They didn’t honor the advertised price. 

JetBlue is offering a $599 rate for all you can fly from 9/8 – 10/8.  You have to purchase before 8/21 so you had better hurry.  You will have to fly out of New Orleans as that is the closest JB gets to us.

Willie Johnson had one of his knees scoped Tuesday.  Joyce Hacker got an epidural yesterday afternoon.  The pastor at 1st Baptist St. Elmo has been diagnosed with cancer and will receive chemo and radiation beginning next Tuesday, 8/18.  Pray for these folks. 

Miss Joyce Bosarge was in our service last night.  It is always good to see her.

We are beginning the drive to scholarship pastors to attend our annual pastors’ conference in Guatemala.  The cost is $60 per person.  Interested?  Contact me.

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

Joyce Hacker is getting an epidural shot today to try and help with her pain.  I received an e-mail earlier this morning asking us to pray for Pastor Mike Soesbe as he is battling cancer.  Pastor Mike serves at 1st Baptist St. Elmo and it was just determined that the cancer is now in his bones.  I don’t know any other details but do know he needs our prayers. 

I am thinking of putting out an APB for T. Garrett.  He is certainly flying below the radar these days.

I have read some interesting articles in recent days – the driver who was shot by another driver b/c he didn’t pull up close enough to the stop sign; the 13 year old girl who stabbed her step-father b/c her poured milk down the sink and she wanted cereal; the guy who is facing six months for yawning too loudly in a court room.  Wow!

Actually got to do one of those phone surveys this week regarding the proposed health care plan.  I told them if they wanted a real opinion to simply phone Pastor Jack Bailey! 

Mark Mast, check your hotmail account!  Rex Looney, you going to leave me hanging regarding the pastors’ conference or what? 

We are on a regular schedule today.  I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.

Good Tuesday  morning.  The only update I have this morning is about my dad.  He had a scan done last week that shows his cancer is growing and one of his blood counts is up.  The doctor has ordered another scan in three months and, if the growth continues, he will order another round of chemotherapy.  Your prayer support is appreciated.

Miss Kittie has been battling vertigo for a few days but was feeling better yesterday.  Hopefully, she will be “good to go” in the next day or so.  Pray for her. 

Seems like a lot of folks have been getting “stuck” in the last few days.  There certainly could be worse situations but I know the folks who spent nine hours (overnight) on the plane while it was at the airport weren’t real happy.  A 50 passenger plane with 47 folks on it including two babies.  I have never understood why they can’t let folks off the plane and into the airport in those situations. 

Then about a dozen folks got stuck on a roller coaster when it malfunctioned.   That whole ordeal only lasted about four hours and they were in an upright position when the coaster malfunctioned. 

On a certainly more serious note, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers made a wrong decision one night back in January.  That decision became public this past weekend.  His wife, Katie, posted a blog entry on The Dallas News website today.  I would copy it here but I don’t want to violate any copyright laws.  So, if interested, you can read it at www.dallasnews.com.  Good article on forgiveness.  By the way, Josh has admitted this and dealt with it back in January by calling his wife, the Rangers, and MLB to tell them of his mistake.  Doesn’t make it right in any regards but does show he was serious about confessing his sin.  When a man thinks he stands. . . . .

Our girls have left for their first full day of school.  Dana & Gina are 7th graders and Hien is a senior – wow! 

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

The weekend was good.  I appreciate Bro. Jerry preaching in my absence yesterday morning.  It was good to be back in the pulpit last night.  Thanks to those who were faithful! 

Brian & Leah’s wedding was great!  Yes, we had to have the ceremony inside but, in my opinion, that was a good thing due to the wet ground, heat, and mosquitoes.  I know Leah wanted an outside wedding but it was good to be inside.  They left today for their honeymoon in Mexico.

It was so good to see many friends and to spend some time in fellowship with them.  Lisa & I met with a couple of leaders from a church that will most likely be leading a team to Guatemala next summer.  This will be a new team and they will utilize a date in August.  God continues to bless GRACE Ministries. 

It is my understanding that Anna Carol & Brenda’s cousin passed away in north Mississippi.  Pray for that family. 

School begins today so we settle back into a “normal” routine.  We are set for a regular week.  My prayer is that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful in all areas. 

I congratulate Pastor Jack & the members of Danville Baptist for their successful block party this past Saturday evening.  That was their 9th one and it seems they had a blessed time. 

My computer tells me this is the 700th post on the pastor’s blog.  Wow!

It is my prayer that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

Friday morning greetings from Holland, Michigan.  I am sitting at the kitchen table in the home of Ross & Kathy Genzink being entertained by Kaily Genzink.  She is trying to get me to get her boyfriend to propose marriage to her!  I’ll try but I am not a miracle worker!

Tom Compagner came by a bit earlier and got Samuel to go play his first game of golf.  That should be a blast.  Samuel will probably have a lower score than Tom! 

We slept with the windows open last night – how crazy is that!  Yes, it is August and they have the windows open.  Kaily says they have not turned the air conditioning on all summer.  (I think you call it “tight Ross”) 

However, they are now calling for high heat and humidity tomorrow.  First time all summer!  Imagine that!  Leah & Brian’s wedding is scheduled to take place outside. 

Pray for the Merritt family today as they go through the funeral service for James.  Pray for Bro. Robbie as he preaches that service.  I don’t have any new updates on the folks who are hospitalized or battling cancer.  However, we need to keep praying for each of them.

I began reading “Wild Goose Chase” yesterday.  Good book.  I want to be like Dr. Jack Bailey & Dr. Michael Mason.  What a goal to have in life!

Nick Whistlebritches, if you are reading this entry, Kaily wants to get married – now!

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

Where is Chris Taylor?  Did you notice that yesterday’s entry did not allow space between paragraphs?  I copied and pasted Marisa’s e-mail into that entry and everything after that was basically in one paragraph.  I have edited that post about 65 times now and it appears correct only to end up the same!  Yes, I think Otto may have been right!

Miss Joyce Bosarge has changed her chemo treatments and was not feeling so well last night according to Liz.  Joyce Hacker is having problems with her back and had an MRI done yesterday.  Miss Kathleen Henderson remains hospitalized.  Sarah Thornton had a nephew, Wesley Brown, to pass unexpectedly.  Miss Eunice Lyons remains hospitalized and in need of our prayers.  They are still trying to determine why James Cook’s father is losing blood.  Diane Vickers’ grandmother, 99 years old, has not been doing so well in a convalscent home facility in Bay Springs, MS.  Edna Holifield’s sister, Arlene Hepinstall, is having some physical problems.  Leslie Williams has asked us to pray for a young girl in her class who shows signs of a brain tumor.  Pray for all of these needs.

The visitation with the James Merritt family will take place tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM in the church auditorium followed by the service tomorrow morning at 10:00AM.  Bro. Robbie Howard will be preaching the service so pray for him too. 

GRACE Ministries has afforded me the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of folks.  Many of them have become dear friends.  One of the first Yankees I met in Guatemala was Tom Compagner.  He and I became friends really fast.  That friendship has grown over the years.  Two years ago Tom & Shari’s daughter, Leah, was on one of our GRACE trips as was a young man by the name of Brian Cochran.  Sparks flew (sparks were always flying around Leah for one reason or the other) and now she & Brian are getting married. 

So, Lisa, Samuel, & I will fly out today as I will have the privilege of officiating at the wedding ceremony on Saturday evening.  Samuel will stay in Michigan for a few extra days while Lisa & I will return home on Sunday morning.  Originally, my flight got me home in time for the 10:30AM service but the flight schedule was changed.  Lord willing, I will be back for the 2:00PM service and the evening service. 

Pray for us as we travel.  My prayer is that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful this Sunday morning.  Remember, it is all about Jesus. 

I have a good friend who is facing a major decision in the very near future.  I simply ask you to pray for this unspoken request – God knows.

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

Praise the Lord!  Carla Kyser got a good report from the doctor yesterday.  He is the e-mail her mother, Marisa, sent to me: