Pastor's Blog

Marlene Broome’s mother, Miss Ethel Dunnam, passed from this life shortly after 9:00AM today.  The visitation with the family and the service will take place in Beaumont, MS at times to be determined later this afternoon.  Pray for Marlene, her brother, Gary, and their families.

What a great weekend – glory to God!  What an absolute joy to see Melody Johnson & Seth Bosarge pray to receive Jesus as their personal Savior during the 10:30AM service yesterday and to have Joel Huffman join the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  God gives the increase and we give Him all of the glory!

I don’t want to say “I told you so”  but if you missed last night’s service then you missed a blessing.  “A Time For Us” did a precious job of sharing Christmas with us through song, readings, and just giving of themselves.  I appreciate Carl Ray Moulds for scheduling this group and Michael Reeves for bringing them to minister to us.  Already, I have received personal comments and e-mails with folks expressing  how special the service was to them personally.  Here is a excerpt from an e-mail, “Tonight’s service was indeed special.  It may have been the best Christmas blessing I have received in many years.  Thank you for having them.”

Marlene Broome’s mother, Ethel Dunnam, is in serious condition in a local hospital.  She has a congestive heart failure problem and certainly needs our prayers. 

Miss Vivian is improving.  Ruby Gulley(Sunday), Caroline Ford (Saturday), & Kayla & Logan Hatcher (Sunday) all came home from the hospital.  Praise the Lord!

I received word yesterday afternoon that Pastor Jack Bailey & the fine folks at Danville Baptist Church reached their Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal of $60,000 – praise the Lord!  What a blessing!  I can assure you that Pastor Jack walked home on the clouds!  Congratulations to this sister church family on reaching this new record regarding the LMCO for them personally!

I was pleased when Mark Ingram’s name was called Saturday night as the winner of this year’s Heisman Trophy.  I am a Bama fan but I am also a fan of the way Mark Ingram conducts himself.  I still prefer a national championship but it would now be nice to have the Heisman winner plus the NC.  By the way, IMO, Tim Tebow is class! 

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

Caroline Ford had her heart cath and it revealed one blockage (80%) that needed a stent.  There were other blockages but the doctor thinks they can be corrected with diet, exercise, et cetera.  She will spend tonight in the hospital. 

Ruby Gulley had a stent placed today to allow her to pass a kidney stone and it had immediate success.  They are going to do a couple of more tests regarding the mass in her lungs.  She should go home tomorrow.

Scott & Meagan “Bo” Older are expectant parents.  They were surprised yesterday when they went to find out if the baby is a boy or girl as they now have discovered two heart beats – TWINS!  One is a girl and the other is thought to be a girl but that isn’t definite.  (I would suggest Minnie & Paul for the names if there is one of each gender)

Jay Logan Hatcher made his entrance into this world this morning (I think around 11:00AM) weighing 7 lbs 13 oz and he is 21 inches long.  Mother, son, father, and older sister are doing fine!  Congratulations!

Kayla Hatcher was admitted into the hospital last night with the expectation that Logan will make his grand entrance into this world at some point today.  Pray for Logan, Kayla, Ryan & family today.  Congratulations to grandmothers Debbie & Becky!  (Brenda, you’re next!)

Ruby Gulley was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  Once admitted, the doctors found a “mass” in her lungs but determined last night that it is scar tissue from her previous hospital stay due to the auto accident – praise the Lord!  Pray for Ruby.

Miss Vivian remains hospitalized and is the rehab process.  Caroline Ford will have her heart cath done this morning.  Sue Blodgett came home from the hospital yesterday. 

The funeral service for Diane & Keith’s grandmother takes place this morning at 11:00AM from 1st Baptist Creola.  Pray for this family. 

Pastor & Mrs. Alvin Sullivan of Kushla-Bethany Baptist Church had a son, Ken, to pass away on Wednesday.  The visitation with the family is tonight and the service tomorrow.  Pray for the Sullivan family. 

Thanks for your prayers for the Timberlake family during yesterday’s service.  Keep praying for them. 

I have decided that ESPN is anti Alabama football after last night’s awards show.  They are in love with Colt, Toby & Suh!  (CBS is in love with Tebow!)  Obviously, my hope is that Ingram will win the Heisman but I will be surprised if he does.  However, I would much rather Bama win the game on 1/7/10! 

Evidently my readership numbers have slipped as I had no takers on yesterday’s offer.  What more can a guy do?  (Perhaps Mike Moreland will read this blog today!)

I plan on updating on Logan’s birth and the results of Caroline’s cath later today, tonight, or in the morning. 

Go to church this Sunday!   Celebrate the birth of Christ!  Merry Christmas!

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

Pastor Jack House & I will preach the funeral service today at noon for Shane Timberlake.  Jeanette Bates will play the keyboard and sing.  Pray for us as we minister and for the Timberlake family.  The service will take place from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home. 

Miss Vivian Ladnier seemed better yesterday.  I had a good visit with her, the girls, and Sammy.  I also had a nice visit with Sue Blodgett.  She did not go home yesterday but is thinking maybe today.  It is my understanding that Jim Payne did well through his surgery yesterday. 

The arrangements for Diane & Keith’s grandmother are as follows:  visitation with the family tonight from 5:30 – 8:00PM at Radney’s in Saraland.  The funeral service will take place tomorrow at 11:00AM from First Baptist of Creola.  Pray for this family. 

This is really for our out of town readers so they can pray and perhaps make a contact today.  Caroline Ford is scheduled to have a heart catherization tomorrow morning.  She has been having fatigue and shortness of breath. 

We enjoyed a good Wednesday in our respective services.  Again, my day ended with about 30 of our young adults in Bible study.  I thank God for folks who are faithful to attend our services. 

I know that Pastor Jack Bailey joins me in “being glad” that our beloved Lakers won their 10th consecutive game last night and now have the best record, 17 – 3, in the NBA.  He probably is beside himself this morning. 

I have made this offer to my Sunday School class and the deacons and feel led to offer it to others i.e. Genzink Plumbing, One Fine Day Photography, T. Garrett, T&T Trucking, Eagle Sales, et cetera.  If someone will get my game tickets, airfare, and hotel room to the Bama/Texas game on 1/7 then I will take care of my food!   

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

The visitation with the Shane Timberlake family will take place this evening from 5:00 – 8:00PM at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  The service will take place at 12:00 noon tomorrow.  Continue to pray for Shane’s family during this difficult time. 

Bev Aldrich called last night to tell me that her sister’s (Kathy) husband, Jim Payne, will have five by-pass surgery this morning.  Pray for him. 

Josh & Desi Hovel are expecting their second child next May.  A scan yesterday revealed some possible physical complications for the baby.  More tests will be done later this month to get a better idea of whether Desi should give birth in Mobile or in Birmingham.  Pray for this baby and pray for Josh & Desi along with Bro. Jerry & Tena. 

Diane Cordelle & Keith Brown’s maternal grandmother passed away early yesterday morning.  Those arrangements are incomplete at this time but I do ask you to pray for this family.  Diane & Keith’s paternal grandmother was buried two weeks ago. 

I was out of pocket yesterday but it is my understanding that Sue Blodgett had an outpatient surgery.  I do not have an update on Miss Vivian but will see her later today. 

My brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, have stopped by for a very quick visit.  They leave this morning as Eddie has a doctor’s appointment to schedule a surgery for himself. 

We are on a regular schedule today regarding our services.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will join us for these services/classes. 

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

Miss Vivian Ladnier had a difficult time early yesterday morning and was not feeling well when I stopped by for a visit.  Keep praying for her and pray that her will to get home stays strong.

Michael Pinson is a brother-in-law of DeWanda Womack.  He was visiting in Grand Bay over the Thanksgiving weekend and had to be placed in the hospital.  He is in an ICU.  I just learned about his situation this past Sunday and went by to see him yesterday but did not get to see him.  Pray for him.

The arrangements for Shane Timberlake will be finalized today but plans call for the visitation to take place tomorrow night, 12/9, from 5:00 – 8:00PM at the Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  The service will take place at 12:00 noon on Thursday, 12/10, from the chapel at Serenity.   Keep praying for the Timberlake family. 

I haven’t heard from Gene & Gena but Sommer Brock did send a message yesterday to say that there are Bama flags flying in Texas!  Imagine that, Christians in Texas!  LOL! 

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

Pearl Harbor Day.  It is a day that happened years before my birth but it is day that I will always remember.  In 1994, Lisa & I had the honor of being in that very harbor and I really can’t express the emotions that flooded my soul that day.  I thank God for the men & women of our military – then & now. 

Craig Kirschenman’s birthday – 12/7/53.  It too happened several years before my existence but I also can’t forget it – because Craig makes sure that I don’t forget!  LOL!  What a special guy!

It was a real joy to have Neal & Jana Seaborn in our services yesterday.  They are IMB missionaries and are dear friends.  I appreciate Neal sharing from the Word in our morning services.  They were here to promote the LMCO but that wasn’t necessary because. . . . .   Praise the Lord!  (Don’t forget the GA post office which is operating through 12/16)

I appreciate Kathy Wadkins and those involved in the children’s choir musical last night.  The children did great and I know their family members were proud! 

Tragic news came to us yesterday morning as we learned that Shane Timberlake passed away.  Shane was 25 years old.  Pray for Mark & Brenda along with his siblings, Shannon & Drew.  The arrangements are incomplete at this time. 

Bubba Bennefield shared with me yesterday morning that his 45 year old nephew had an accident in Texas and was taken off life support yesterday morning.  I don’t have an update but do ask that you pray for this family. 

It was a good weekend as Alabama won the SEC championship in football.  (I am a Tim Tebow fan and I thought he handled himself well following the defeat.)  I am sure that Gene & Gena Davis are wearing their burnt orange today anticipating the 1/7 national championship game.  Is that sick or what?   Congrats to all of the SEC teams and their bowl invitations! 

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

The arrangements for Wayne Hickman today are as follows – visitation with the family from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM service time at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  Pray for Chuck Hodges, his mother, and the family as they go through this time of sorrow. 

Betty McMann’s brother-in-law, Warren Carney, passed away in Illinois yesterday afternoon.  Pray for that family too during their time of loss.  I am assuming the service will take place this weekend but don’t have that confirmed. 

Also, Rita shared during Wednesday night’s service that the mother of two of the ladies who attend our Spanish service passed away this week.  She lived in El Salvador.  Pray for the Ramos family. 

Rob Nevin’s mother, Barbara, will have a heart cath done this morning so pray for her. 

Please be reminded of the meal being sponsored by our student ministry this Sunday noon and the children’s choir musical on Sunday night at 6:00PM. 

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

P.S. – For all of our Yankee readers – they are talking “snow” in this area for tonight!  It most likely won’t happen in Grand Bay but we are getting out the tire chains just in case!  LOL!