Pastor's Blog

The visitation with Karen Walker & family will take place tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home with the funeral service tomorrow at 1:00PM.  Pray for this family. 

Desi Hovel was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  She is scheduled to deliver the baby by c-section on April 30 but she is having some problems that could change all of that.  Of course, this is Bro. Jerry & Tena’s daughter-in-law. 

Oscar Petersen was admitted to the hospital yesterday too.  He was having chest pains.  Oscar is such a picture of health that it is hard to imagine anything being wrong with him.

Bill Abendroth had a minor heart attack during the night on Sunday and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.  He was discharged yesterday.

Sue Blodgett’s sister, Gail Bishop, remains hospitalized but is doing better.  She may be discharged in a day or two.

Gage Hudson continues to receive his radiation treatments.  Jayne English remains hospitalized and has not awakened yet.  Miss Lucine Bryant did well yesterday morning as they shocked her heart back into rhythm.   The funeral service for infant Hayden Davis will take place today.  Pray for all of these folks and their respective needs.

Our deacons are asked to meet with me tomorrow night, 4/7, at 6:00PM.  The missions committee is asked to meet this Sunday, 4/11, at 4:00PM.  Both of these meetings will take place in the pastor’s office. 

I had a “bad” day yesterday.  First, we didn’t have the proper documentation for Hien to take her driver’s test so we had to come home and make a return trip.  There can be no greater joy than sitting in the driver’s license office for three hours – at least I had a book to read!  Hien didn’t pass the test.  I have told her that she can’t take it again until 2014.  (Personally, I don’t think women should be allowed to drive!  LOL!)  By the way, you should probably add the lady who administered the road test to Hien to your prayer list as I am sure she was admitted to a local hospital yesterday afternoon! 

Second, the LA Dodgers got beat by the Pirates in their season opener.  What’s up with that? 

Third, Duke won the NCAA men’s basketball championship.  I know Les Hacker, Bill Rhyne, Bro. Robbie, and all of those “band wagon” fans are happy today but I was sure wanting Butler to do the seemingly impossible!  However, I congratulate Duke on their victory!  

My bracket ended up 44 – 19.  (Joe David, what was your final count?)  Kristen Fontenot won our “bracket challenge” and will get a gift card.  Her mom, Nanette, called last night and wanted to know if she could get the gift card and take me out to eat?  Something about a trip down memory lane!  Caryn Hyatt also correctly picked Duke to win but only had one final four team while Kristen had two.  Why doesn’t a guy ever win? 

Finally, it got worse!  Lisa & the girls are at the island.  I am finally home enjoying a few minutes of peace after a fairly long day – Soy shows up to talk!  Please Lord, say it ain’t so!  After about two hours, I promised to buy him a new video game for Christmas if he would just go home.  It worked!

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

P.S. – My lifelong friend, Ken James, hit the 50 mark today!  All the folks I graduated with are getting OLD!  Happy 50th birthday, Ken!

P.S.S. – Pastor Travis, too much sugar for a dime!  I wouldn’t recommend it!

He lives!  What a glorious weekend we had remembering the death & burial of Jesus and celebrating His resurrection!  All of our services were well attended and the choir did a nice job of presenting the musical in the evening service.  I do love Easter Sunday! 

Karen Walker’s father, Mr. Lee, passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon.  He was living with Karen & Sidney.  At this point, I do not know the arrangements.

Hayden Davis, the 19 months old baby, passed away this weekend too.  A visitation with the family will take place tonight at Serenity followed by a graveside service tomorrow. 

Jayne English came off the ventilator last Wednesday and was placed in a room on Friday.  She has still not awakened but being off the vent is a step in the right direction.

Susan Quinn is in the process of setting up an appointment at Duke University.  She could not get into M.D. Anderson until about six weeks out and Duke can most likely see her within the next two weeks. 

Gage Hudson resumes his radiation treatments today.  He took an oral chemotherapy treatment last night.

Sue Blodgett’s sister, Gail Bishop, was readmitted to the hospital due to an infection following her recent surgery. 

Carla Kyser continues to battle sores in her mouth as a result of her chemotherapy treatments.  Miss Joyce Bosarge is still having pain even though she is taking radiation treatments.  Bill Abendroth took another chemo treatment last Thursday and was in our first service yesterday. 

Miss Lucine Bryant, Morris & Brenda’s mother, will have her heart shocked back into rhythm this morning.  Pray that this will correct the problems she has had for the past month or so. 

Miss Judy Tucker’s mother spent several days in the hospital last week.  I think she is home now. 

So, I have shared a number of prayer concerns for you to consider as you pray.  Thank you for being a people of prayer. 

Here is a less serious but larger prayer request – Hien is going to take the test to get her driver’s license today!  I don’t know whether to ask you to pray that she passes for her sake or that she fails for the sake of all of the other folks who drive!  Pray for me as I “ride” with her to the driver’s license office today! 

I am picking Duke to win it all tonight!  (This is a ploy as my picks have been horrible in recent games as in 0 for 2 this past Saturday night!)  Go Butler!  Did you know that a university beginning with the letter “B” has never won the NCAA Division I basketball championship? 

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

I realize that this is Easter weekend and not Thanksgiving.  However, my heart is very thankful as this Saturday draws to a close.  Obviously, I am thankful for the sacrificial death of Jesus and His glorious resurrection.  He lives!

We have had a number of folks serving in recent days as we have continued our “March to Easter.”  The back property was mowed which got it ready for the activities of this morning.  I am thankful to Stan Hatcher for this act of service.

I am thankful to Bro. Benny, Bro. Dale, Bro. Josh and all those folks who helped today with the Sunday School, preschool church, children’s church, and the egg hunt.  Awesome day!  I am thankful to God for giving us a great weather day!

I am thankful to Carl Ray Moulds & John Whalen for preparing the breezeway and front porch for the new carpet.  A like thanks goes to Chris Howell with an assist from Sherry Lavelle for installing the carpet.  Several guys helped this morning with removing some more carpet.  It all looks great!

I am thankful for Danny Lewis preparing and painting the steps in front of the office.  Danny has such a servant’s heart and is always, always willing to serve!  As Bruce Gill put it, “Danny works the night shift!”

I am thankful that Rita Arriola and two ladies who were recently saved in our Spanish service went visiting other Spanish speaking folks and inviting them to our service tomorrow.  Those folks are taking more “ownership” of that ministry which is a God thing.  Amen!

I am thankful that even if I am leaving someone out, God isn’t and that those folks are serving for a greater reward than a mention in a blog entry.

I am posting this quickly as the first game of the Final Four has already begun.  I have refrained from turning the television on so as to not color my thinking.

I think Michigan State and West Virginia are going to win tonight.  However, I have Duke winning in my bracket.

I am pulling for Michigan State.  Why?  Tom Compagner, Karen Foulds, Tim Millard, and the list goes on of the many supporters of GRACE Ministries who are State fans.  Those folks are too good to GRACE to pull against their team.  If it weren’t for that fact, I would be pulling for Butler.  Go State!

Why WVU?  My mama was born in West Virginia and I still have relatives living there.  Jerry West was a star for WVU and I absolutely idolized Jerry West as I was growing up.  His son is on the current WVU team.

Why not Duke?  One word – Duke!  I didn’t like Duke back in 1978 and nothing has changed.

If MSU and WVU make the finals, I project a WVU victory but I will be pulling for State.

Tony Hacker says I better be glad that I am a preacher and not a gambler.  I say “amen” for more than one reason!

*Game One is over and I was wrong.  Congrats to the Butler Bulldogs on their victory.  I hope they win it all now!  Can they?  We’ll see!

My thoughts today are on the supreme sacrifice paid by Jesus as he laid down His life for sinners.  May we set aside some time to merely reflect on the cost of our salvation.  O what a Savior!

The Lord blessed and we had a good Wednesday in our services.  I am very grateful for the folks who are faithful on Wednesdays. 

Bill Abendroth receives another chemo treatment today.  Lora & Leah were discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Miss Joyce has begun her new round of radiation.  Gage Hudson will hopefully be discharged from the hospital today. 

Bill & Bea Unrue arrived home safely from Ohio yesterday afternoon and were in the service last night.  Jeff Long finally received his renewed passport and will have to leave Saturday morning.  He (we) was in hopes that he could be present for the Easter services here but it doesn’t appear that will be the case.  Deanna told me that Nancy West is recovering from her surgery but has lost her voice – I think I’ll send Lisa to visit! 

Phase II was delayed by a day when the sheetrock guys didn’t work yesterday.  Thanks to Tony Hacker, Bro. Jerry, & Bro. Kerry for getting the area cleaned so the rock guys can work today – hopefully!   My thinking is that I may pipe audio of my messages into the CAB today – that will teach them! 

Carl Ray Moulds is leading the charge today to get the outdoor carpet up in the breezeway and in front of the office.  Chris Howell will be laying new carpet in those areas before Saturday.  Robin Williams sold us a different kind of carpet with a promise it will look good and is a better grade.  I believe her and look forward to this upgrade.   (Thanks to Don Williams & American Carpet for giving us a good deal on the price of the carpet.) 

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

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot