Pastor's Blog

I left the hospital around 8:45PM last night and Miss Vivian’s condition was basically unchanged.  The doctors have decided to just let her body recover some before proceeding.  Not sure what’s next but do know we just need to keep praying.

I don’t have an update on anyone else so I assume that no news is good news.  Pastor Abel Garcia & Whitney Bryant are scheduled to get their respective test results this week.  Lois Kirschenman is scheduled for a knee replacement this Friday morning. 

Labor Day ’09 was exactly that for me.  Soy & Deidra helped me as we worked at Charles’ place – mowed the lawn, did a ton of weed eating, trimmed the front hedges, and trimmed some limbs hanging over the parking area.  I can’t figure why Soy is so eager to help Charles but basically always has an excuse when it comes to my yard? 

I enjoyed the Labor Day weekend as it marked the beginning of another college football season.  I began by watching some of the USC vs NCSU game last Thursday night and finished by watching the UM vs FSU game last night – good game to watch!  Of course, the highlight for me personally was the Bama game on Saturday night. 

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

God deserves the glory for providing us with a good “holiday” weekend.  I knew that we had a fairly significant number of folks out of town.  However, we were blessed as we had a good number of out of town guests join us for our worship services.  Yes, we were down “some” but all in all it was a good day. 

What a joy to welcome Bro. Robbie Howard and Vanjee (sp?) Moore into the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  Of course, in my way of thinking, Bro. Robbie has, since 1971, been a vital part of the Friendship family. 

What can I say about the evening service?  Kathy, Kayla, & Kourtney Wadkins did their usual outstanding job in presenting the Gospel in song.  Jamison Willis, the 10 year old from Pell City, was outstanding – wow!  The fellowship meal was great and the auditorium was basically packed for the service.  God gave us a great service.  If you missed it, you missed a blessing!  Thanks Kathy for coordinating that service. 

It was also a blessing to see our Hispanic friends join us for the evening service.  We had 13 adults in our 2:00PM service and they stayed for the meal and 6:00PM service.  I watched as the Friendship family members embraced them in a warm way and they really enjoyed themselves.  Thank you for being a part of this ministry!

Edwin Williams is looking into getting his CDL in order to help in our bus ministry.  I challenge others to do likewise.  Contact Bro. Benny for more information. 

Miss Vivian’s situation is basically no different as of 8:30AM today.  They did turn the ventilator to a lower setting at 5:00AM but had to up it because she was having some problems breathing on her own. 

Wayne Hickman, Chuck Hodges’ stepfather, is battling cancer and is in a local hospital.  Pray for him and the others who are battling cancer.

It is 7:45AM and Cecil Guidry just called to tell me that the doctor says Miss Vivian had a bad night.  Her kidneys are seemingly shutting down and he said they would have to take “another route” to treat her.  Obviously, the family is very concerned about this latest development.  Keep praying.

Miss Lillian Brinkman was sent home from the emergency room and told not to talk.  The family requests that she have no visitors.  Pray for her too.

This post is coming at 8:15AM and I just returned from the hospital visiting with Miss Vivian and her family.  The doctor came in and said that Miss Vivian had “surprised” (not sure if that is the exact word he used) as she was actually some better this morning.  He didn’t expect that.  Cecil & John told him that it was a God thing. 

Please understand that Miss Vivian is still a very sick lady.  If I were to classify her condition then it would be critical (that is my classification and not the medical staff).  So, pray fervently! 

Miss Lillian Brinkman is being taken to the hospital this morning as she has pneumonia and is having problems with her throat.  I don’t know if they are going to admit.  The good thing is that she is going to the same hospital where Miss Vivian is so the family will not be in two different locations.  Miss Vivian & Miss Lillian are sisters-in-law.

We seemingly have a ton of folks out of town for the weekend.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family who are in town to be in their rightful place tomorrow morning and evening.  Don’t forget the meal and the singing tomorrow night. 

Hope you have a great Saturday!  Roll Tide!

Miss Vivian Ladnier came out of surgery around 6:30PM.  The good news is that she did well and the doctor was able to remove all of the “puss” (Myrtle’s word) from her right side.  They placed a protective covering over the tear in her esophagus.

The less than good news is that the doctor told the family “If you go in tomorrow morning and she is alive that is good.  If you go in on Sunday morning and she is alive then you are blessed.”  The next 24 – 36 hours are critical so please be diligent in your prayers for Miss Vivian and her family. 

I am posting this at 8:30PM.  I will update again tonight if there is any change.  I will update tomorrow morning whether there is a change or not.

It is 3:00PM and the doctors have just told Miss Vivian’s family that he must do surgery now.  Cecil’s words were that the liquid in her lungs is “poison” and to not do surgery is certainly fatal.  It is estimated the surgery will begin around 5:00PM.  Pray!

Miss Vivian Ladnier’s situation is a roller coaster.  Late yesterday afternoon they did a scan on her chest to try to determine her problem.  The family may have heard from the doctor last night but more likely they will hear this morning.  Keep praying!

Whitney Bryant had her scan yesterday and will have another one early this morning.  She will then meet with the doctor next Thursday to discuss the results.  Pray that will be good news!

Haley Walker remains hospitalized but may be discharged either this afternoon or tomorrow.  Alexus Blackwell (Larry & Trish’s daughter) is in the hospital too for some testing.  Teddy Ray Jackson’s dad, Andrew Jackson, was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  Joyce Hacker has asked us to pray for a friend, Tommie Price, who has been diagnosed with throat cancer.  I haven’t heard from Carla’s consultation with the doctor.  Pray for all of these folks!

Pastor Max Lara did have a ruptured appendix but is doing okay.  I will get a more definitive word on him over the weekend.  Keep praying.

I remind the Friendship family of our special fellowship & service this Sunday evening.  The meal begins at 5:00PM and the service at 6:00PM.  Our students will go bowling after the evening service.  Kathy Wadkins and family will lead our worship service and they will be joined by Jameson Willis from Pell City, Alabama.  Jameson is 10 years old but has been blessed with a tremendous singing voice. 

It is a holiday weekend.  I encourage folks to be faithful to God and the house of God this Sunday.  Aren’t you glad that God is always faithful to us? 

I will be in town all weekend and am available 24/7.  No, I am not going to Atlanta but have plans to watch plenty of college football on television! 

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

The Lord blessed and we had a good Wednesday in our respective services.  Again, for me, it is always a good ending to the day to gather with our young adults for Bible study.  There were 34 of them present last night and we had a good time in the Word. 

I have to give a shout out to our student ministry too.  Bro. Chris & Bro. Dale are doing a good job and they had 94 students in attendance last night.  Great job students & leaders!  It is about souls and not numbers but each number represents a soul!  Praise the Lord!

Cecil was able to share some good news last night as the doctor told them that there had been a “slight” improvement in Miss Vivian’s situation.  She is still a very sick lady but any word of improvement is a good thing.  Their hope is to get her in for a scan this afternoon.  Pray that will happen.

Haley Walker remains hospitalized with pneumonia.  Pray for a speedy recovery.

Whitney Bryant goes for her full body scan today.  She will go back next Thursday for the results.  I am praying they will find nothing except freckles! 

Carla Kyser meets with her radiologist this morning.  Pray as he considers means of treatment. 

Pastor Abel Garcia did not have a nuclear stress test yesterday (my mistake) but will have it done today.  Pray for him!

Joyce Hacker continues to recover at home as does Gerald Poiroux.  Betty Neal was able to get out and about on her own yesterday.  Deanna Wetterer’s mother, Sue Carpenter, had knee replacement this past Monday and may go home today.  Donald Stork, Bobby’s brother, is scheduled for surgery next Tuesday.  George Douglas, Jr. (Dee Dee’s dad) cannot have surgery as his cancer has spread.  Betty Taylor was diagnosed with cancer and will have surgery on 9/21.  Pastor Max Lara did well through his surgery.  By the way, GRACE Ministries will take care of the expenses related to that surgery so a big thank you goes to everyone (individuals & churches) who financially support GRACE Ministries.  Mike Parker and family will travel to the States on 9/12 to spend a couple of months with his dad who is also battling cancer.  So, you and I have a lot of folks to pray for today.

We are still in need of scholarships for the pastors’ conference.  One of our evangelist friends made a contribution that arrived in the mail yesterday – what a gracious act.  We had another out of town supporter pick up five of the pastors.  We are grateful & blessed!

Friendship family – don’t forget the meal & service this Sunday, 9/6, at 5:00PM. 

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

Urgent – Pastor Max Lara is scheduled to undergo an emergency appendectomy today, 9/2,  at 2:00PM Guatemala time.  The surgery will take place at a private hospital in Chimaltenango.  Pray that all goes well.

Sherry Lavelle e-mailed this morning to share that Pastor Abel Garcia is having (already had?) a nuclear stress test today after having failed an EKG on Monday.  Pray for Pastor Abel.

I am entering this post a mere 10 hours or so since my last entry so I obviously don’t have much in the way of “new” news. 

I spoke to Cecil Guidry via the phone around 9:30PM last night.  They had allowed Miss Vivian to awaken some but her pain is great.  She is on the ventilator which means she can’t talk but she did respond by using her head to give yes & no responses.  The doctors continue to say that she is a very sick lady. 

I also spoke to Whitney Bryant via the phone and received an e-mail from Diane later.  Whitney had to take a pill yesterday in order for them to do the scan tomorrow.  She should get the test results on the following Thursday, 9/10. 

Today is a regular Wednesday for us schedule wise.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to join us either this morning or tonight. 

Twenty-three years ago this morning, Lisa, Deidra, Daphne, & I were traveling home from a national church softball tournament in North Carolina.  I will never forget stopping somewhere north of Atlanta to call the church office to check in and learning that Lisa’s brother, Michael, had been taken from us in a car accident as he drove to his first day of classes in college.  That memory seems so fresh yet so distant.  Death hurts. (Three years later to the day Dub Ladnier would pass away after a battle with cancer)  I often think of those who have “gone before” and my only consolation is that they are with Jesus and that one day we will be reunited because of Jesus.  Because Jesus lives we can face today! 

Pray without ceasing!