Pastor's Blog

Lisa, Dana, & I arrived home around 11:00PM last night.  It is now 12:30AM and I have had a busy ninety minutes.  My plans are to leave fairly early in the morning and go to Greenville, SC to be with Edwin & Eula Mae and their family as Susan’s situation continues to decline.  I spoke to Eula Mae as we were driving home tonight and the doctor has given them no hope at all.  It appears to all stem from a rare reaction to the latest chemotherapy treatment given to Susan last Wednesday.  Pray for Susan, her husand, and the entire family.

The visitation with the Dottie Fore family will take place tonight, 7/6, from 5:00 – 8:00PM in the Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  The graveside service will take place tomorrow at noon in Mobile Memorial Gardens.  I cannot begin to imagine losing both parents in the span of about five months.  Pray for Barbara, her siblings, and their families.

Gage Hudson is back in hospital with a kidney stone.  Bernard’s daughter, Leasa, had her gall bladder surgically removed yesterday morning.  You can read these updates from Pattie’s comment on yesterday’s post.

Bobby Broome & Ann Clark’s brother-in-law, William “Smidge” Freeman remains hospitalized in Birmingham.

I ask you to continue to pray for Carla Kyser, Bill Abendroth, Joyce Bosarge, and John Gensler in their respective battles with cancer.  Also, Ted Ezell is supposed to be discharged from the rehab facility today.

The Lord blessed me with a good twenty two hours with my family.  We got a lot done in those few hours.  I thank God for that time with them.  My dad receives another chemo cocktail today.

Lord willing, I will return home early tomorrow morning and will be in the morning service and then attend the funeral service for Miss Dottie Fore.  Pray for me as I travel.

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

First, it is 11:30AM already so this post is obviously late.  The place where we staying did not have a working internet connection and, yes, I have called Al to report the problem.

The visitation with the Dottie Fore family will take place tomorrow night, July 6, from 5:00 – 8:00PM from the Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  The service will be a graveside service only on Wednesday, July 7, at noon.  Bro. Jerry has asked that anyone wishing to help with a meal for the Fore family please call Tena at 599 -4050.  You are asked to have it in the fellowship hall no later than 10:00AM on Wednesday.

I have not an update today from Susan Quinn.  As of yesterday, there had been no significant change.  Keep praying for Susan and the family.

We had a really blessed day in our two services yesterday.  I was very grateful for the faithfulness of our people.  What an absolute joy to have six professions of faith and to baptize eight folks on a holiday!  God gives the increase and we give Him all of the glory!  We serve an awesome God!  Thank you Friendship family members for being faithful!

Lisa, Dana, Gina, & I drove to Birmingham yesterday afternoon and visited with Lisa’s uncle, William “Smidge” Freeman, who underwent major heart surgery last Wednesday.  He is in UAB and is doing well but has a ways to go in his recovery.

We then drove on to Hartselle and spent a few hours with my family.  This morning gave me the opportunity to work in the garden with my dad.  We are about to enjoy a meal consisting of Big Bob Gibson’s bar-b-que – it doesn’t get any better!

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

Bro. Jerry called around 6:45PM to say that Bro. Kerry had just called to tell him that Barbara’s mother, Miss Dottie Fore, had just passed from this life and entered Heaven.  Obviously, this was not an unexpected passing but death still has a sting.  Pray for Barbara, her siblings, and their families.

Eula Mae called Lisa around 7:30AM this morning to say that Susan’s husband had called and told them to come to South Carolina.  They put Susan on a ventilator during the night and now say her liver functions are not normal.  One of her counts is extremely high.  The doctors are keeping her sedated.  The doctor told Diane to call the family and have them come.  I just ask you to pray fervently!

Eula Mae just sent me an e-mail saying they have put Susan in ICU because she was having difficulty breathing.  The oncologist seems to think it is a reaction to the chemotherapy treatment and says it can be reversed.  Eula Mae is trying to decide whether to go back to Greenville, SC.  Pray for Susan and pray for wisdom on Eula Mae’s behalf.

This entry is late and I apologize.  You can blame it on Dave Westhouse but I will not go into the details!

Bro. Chris & the students arrived home safe & sound around 12:30PM last night.  (Cooter was not a “happy camper” as the air conditioner worked for about the first four hours only)  The students seemed to have a good week and several told me of their salvation decisions.  Praise the Lord!  I think Jonathan Stork may have been released from the hospital yesterday but don’t know that for a fact.

Susan Quinn slept all day yesterday.  The doctors say this is one of the “rare” side effects of the type chemo she is taking.  Her sister, Diane, is there with her.

David & Christy Wynn’s daughter, Vivian, was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  I would tell you that they think she has viral meningitis but I don’t know how to spell meningitis!  Pray for her!

I went to visit Cindy Sprinkle in her hospital room yesterday only to be told that she remains in ICU.  I didn’t find any of the family with her so I don’t have an update.

Grandma Pattie commented on yesterday’s post with an update on Gage Hudson.  Carla Kyser has been having some pain but did not tell her mother about it – that Carla is one independent, stubborn thing!  She will have a test later to see what, if any thing, is going on.  Bill Abendroth is doing better.  Keep praying for these folks.

Alisha has posted a new entry on her blog (www.alishavice.blogspot.com).  Soy & Deidra arrived safely in the Philippines (I know Eddie is glad to get shed of them i.e. Soy!)  Soy asked me to send a new picture of me to him as he has worn the one he took out – what’s up with that!

We have a ton of folks who are out of town for the weekend.  However, we are having our regular 8:00AM & 10:30AM services with baptism bringing both services to a close.  I encourage those Friendship family members in town to be faithful!  We will not have Sunday School or any evening activities.

Lord willing, Lisa & I will drive to Hartselle after the 10:30AM service to visit with my parents/family.  We will return on Monday night.  The church office will be closed on Monday, 7/5.

It was great getting my family home last night.  I can’t understand why Lisa was upset because the bed hadn’t been made all week.  How many folks go into our bedroom?  Plus, what difference does it make if the dishes in the dishwasher are dirty?  How was I supposed to know the pool needed chlorine?  Why take the towels out of the laundry basket and fold them?  It is easier just to pull them straight from the basket when you need one.  LOL two or three times!

Most likely, I will not post again until Tuesday unless something happens that necessitates me alerting the Friendship family.  I pray that you will have a great 4th weekend.  Thank God for the men & women of our military!  Go to church this Sunday !

The Lord blessed and we had a very nice attendance in our services yesterday/last night.  We may have been “above” average in the auditorium and Dale told me that there were around 20 students in his Bible study which is great considering Wild Week.  God is good!

Steve Lewis did go home from the hospital.  Cindy Sprinkle (Coley’s mom) was moved from ICU to a regular room.  Jonathan Stork continues to improve but remains in PICU.  Miss Dottie Fore continues to need our prayers.  Carla Kyser & Susan Quinn both received a treatment yesterday.  Miss Joyce Bosarge did not have a good day.  William “Smidge” Freeman is Bobby Broome & Ann Clark’s brother-in-law.  He underwent a 12 hour surgery yesterday at UAB but did well.  Jack Sims is doing well in his recovery at home.

The memorial service for Kevin Vice’s niece, Carol Stuart, will take place tonight at 6:00PM at Holder Wells.  Diane Bryant had a maternal aunt to pass away and those services will take place in Columbiana, AL but I don’t know the details.

Bro. Chris and the students will travel home from Illinois today.  Pray for their safety in travel.  It appears the air conditioner on the bus has been repaired.

The newest round of the NBA free agency has begun.  I could draw parallels to the church but I won’t at this time.  The Dodgers have won three in a row but still remain three games behind the Padres.  Has the World Cup begun play yet?

Hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus!

P.S. – You might be a redneck if you and two of your buddies are pushing your mama’s truck down the interstate!  Priceless!