Dec
25
2010
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MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas to each of you!  I pray that your Christmas Day will be blessed!

Our Christmas Eve service as very good.  What a joy to baptize Jace Wilkinson, Chloe McGath, and Abby Jackson.  The attendance was strong and everything went very well.  I appreciate each person who helped in any way to make the service a blessing.  I especially appreciate Bro. Kerry for coordinating the order of the service and to Allen & Edna Glover for getting the things ready for the Lord’s Supper and baptism.

Whitney Bryant had emergency surgery on Thursday night but was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Bill Unrue was also discharged from the hospital so we have no members of the Friendship family in the hospital on Christmas Day – praise the Lord!  However, Sanford Horn remains hospitalized and in need of our prayers.

We have one service tomorrow and it begins at 10:30AM.  I encourage all members of the Friendship family who are in town to join us for that service.  Lord willing, I will be preaching in that service.

We did receive an offering for Lottie Moon in last night’s service but I do not know how much was given so I cannot tell you how much we need to reach our $40,000 goal.  If needed, we will receive our final offering of 2010 as a part of tomorrow’s service.  We needed $2,100 prior to last night’s service.  Join me in praying that we will reach our goal to the glory of God!

This could be my final blog entry for 2010 but I am not certain about that.  I do not feel that I will blog everyday next week but I may.  (Trying to be like Joe David Bailey)  If something happens to warrant an entry, I will certainly post an entry.

I am told that the last White Christmas in my hometown of Rockyford, AL was in 1963 – until today as it is snowing this morning! In South Mobile County, we are going to have a “wet” Christmas!

I received an e-mail from Mark Harris yesterday and he is looking forward to being with us next Sunday, 1/2, for our 6:00PM service.  Folks, do not miss that service!   We are on an almost regular schedule next Sunday with our three worship services and Sunday School.  (We will not have Discipleship Training or AWANA’s)  Lord willing, I will be preaching in the two morning services.

Remember, the church office is closed Monday, 12/27, and Thursday, 12/30.  There are no services, Bible studies, et cetera on Wednesday, 12/29.

Again, I pray that you will have a great Christmas Day.  Celebrate Jesus!

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
24
2010
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FRIDAY, 12/24/10

Wow, another Christmas Eve is here!  This will be a “full day” for many of us.  My family and I will gather at Charles & Ann’s shortly after noon for a meal and to exchange gifts.  I will then focus solely on our Christmas Eve service which will take place from 5:00 – 6:00PM.  Afterwards, Lisa & I will gather with Soy & Deidra, Brad, Daphne & Titus, Dana, Gina & Hien for our family time.

It is 2:15AM as I write this and I have been awake for the past hour or so thinking mainly of those who are spending this Christmas Eve & Christmas Day without a “special” someone i.e. family member, friend, et cetera for the very first time.  My heart hurts for them and my prayers have been offered on their behalf.  If you are a member of the Friendship family and find yourself in that situation, please know that I am praying for you – especially today & tomorrow!

Bill Unrue could come home today but he wants to remain hospitalized until he is completely well enough to be discharged.  Sanford Horn has been moved into an ICU.  Pray for these men and the others who are battling sicknesses.

Our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total stands at $37,870 which means we now need $2,130 to reach our $40,000 goal.  We are going to receive an offering in this afternoon’s service in hopes of completing this offering for 2010.  I ask those who are going to attend to prayerfully consider bringing a “love offering” for our IMB missionaries.  Praise God for what He has done through this offering thus far – He is a great God!

Our service today begins at 5:00PM and will end promptly at 6:00PM.  It will feature baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and lots of worship through song.  I ask our deacons to meet with me at 4:30PM and our baptismal candidates to meet at 4:40PM in the auditorium.

Plans are for me to post tomorrow.  I want to remind the members of the Friendship family of our 10:30AM service this Sunday, 12/26.  It is our only service of the day!  We will not have any services next Wednesday, 12/29.  Mark Harris will be our special guest on Sunday evening, 1/2, for the 6:00PM service – do not miss that one!

Pray for one another today.  Celebrate Jesus. Enjoy time with your family.

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
23
2010
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THURSDAY, 12/23/10

We had a good Wednesday in our services.  I appreciate folks who are faithful to attend the services.  It is always a good thing to finish the day meeting with our young adults in Bible study.  We thank God for His blessings.

Everyone except Bill Unrue is now home from the hospital.  He is content to remain in the hospital until he is completely well.  Keep praying for all those battling their various illnesses.

Our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal is $40,000 and we presently have $34,501.11 in hand.  My hope is that we can reach our goal as a part of our Christmas Eve service.  I ask that each person attending prayerfully consider helping us by bringing an offering.  If we reach it on Friday night then we will not receive a LMCO offering on Sunday.

Our Christmas Eve service begins at 5:00PM and ends no later than 6:00PM.  The deacons are asked to meet me at 4:30PM and the baptismal candidates at 4:40PM.

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

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
22
2010
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WEDNESDAY, 12/22/10

I do not have any updates on the folks who were hospitalized.  I was out of pocket yesterday.  Bro. Kerry did the hospital visitation for the day and I did not talk to him afterwards for an update.  However, I do know they all need our continued prayers.

Lisa & I went to Citronelle yesterday and attended the funeral service for Miss Cecil McIIwain.  Bro. Johnny preached the service and did a very nice job.  Pray for Miss Judy and the family especially as they go through these next few days.

Lisa and I were also surprised when my brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, showed up unexpectedly last night.  They have some business dealings in Baldwin County today so they spent the night with us last night.  The four of us enjoyed supper at The Lighthouse restaurant.

I have been asking the members of the Friendship family to minister to someone else during this Christmas season.  Well, last night a couple from our church family surprised us by buying our supper.  They were gone before we knew they had done this for us.  They know who they are but I want them to know that Lisa & I really appreciate this act of kindness.  (If I had known they were paying. . . . .  – LOL!)

I have got to contact Al to find out about the action taken by Congress yesterday as it relates to the internet.  Folks, in my opinion, our federal government is way too big!  When Al invented the internet, I do not think he meant for it to be regulated in this way or placed on a system of tiers!

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service and the evening activities.  I pray that many members of the Friendship family will join us.

Do not forget the service on Friday from 5:00 – 6:00PM.  Bring someone with you!

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

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
21
2010
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TUESDAY, 12/21/10

Wow, was it dark last night or what?  Actually, I am writing this at 2:50AM and I just came from outside with my “dark meter” which registers this night as the darkest night in 456 or so years!  The thing works extremely well!  Thanks, Abbie!

God is good!  We received $7,178.06 this past Sunday toward our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions which brings our total to $34,501.11 or 86.3% of our $40,000 goal.  My hope is to now receive enough offering tomorrow and during the Christmas Eve service to not even take a special offering this Sunday.  Praise the Lord as the total given already represents the largest LMCO ever given by the members of the Friendship family.  Yes, God is good!

The pearls arrived yesterday.  Amazingly, all of them have already been sold!  You can contact Deidra (865-8051) or get them in the services tomorrow (morning & evening).  Thank you for responding beautifully to this opportunity!

It is likely that Roy Blodgett and Pattie Suthoff will be discharged from the hospital today.  Bill Unrue is in no hurry to get home as he wants to be well before going home.  Bro. Lonnie Miller’s kidneys are showing signs of working again – praise the Lord!

Lisa and I will travel to Citronelle today to attend the funeral service for Miss Cecil McIIwain.  Pray for Miss Judy Tucker and the entire family as they go through this time of sorrow.

Friendship family – we are on a normal schedule for tomorrow.  Our Christmas Eve service will take place from 5:00 – 6:00PM.  Our only service this Sunday, 12/26, will take place at 10:30AM.

Mark Harris will be with us on the evening of Sunday, 1/2.  Make plans to attend this special service!

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

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
20
2010
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MONDAY, 12/20/10

Miss Judy Tucker’s mother, Miss Cecil McIIwain, passed away Saturday morning.  The visitation will be tomorrow, 12/21, from 9:00AM until the 11:00AM service at First Baptist Citronelle.  Pray for Miss Judy, her siblings, and the family during this time.

Roy Blodgett & Bill Unrue have both been moved from ICU into regular hospital rooms.  Pattie Suthoff has improved and “may” come home today.  Sanford Horn remains hospitalized too.  Pray for these folks.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  Bro. Kerry & the choir did a nice job of sharing the Word through song last night.  Our morning services were well attended.  I do not have an update on our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total but will share that in tomorrow’s entry.

We are on a normal schedule this Wednesday, 12/22.  We have our annual Christmas Eve service from 5:00 – 6:00PM and then one service (10:30AM) this Sunday, 12/26.  The church office will be closed Monday, 12/27, and Thursday, 12/30.

Thanks to Abby Williams I now have a “dark meter” so I am all set for tonight!  What?  Tonight is going to be the darkest night in 456 years and it will not be this dark again until 2094!  I will use the “dark meter” to measure tonight’s darkness.

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

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
17
2010
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FRIDAY, 12/17/10

The visitation with the Burness Walley family takes place tonight from 5:30 – 8:00PM at the Heritage Funeral Home in Escatawpa (right on Highway 63 off of I-10 West) with the service taking place tomorrow morning at 10:00AM.  Pray for the Walley family.

Roy Blodgett, Bill Unrue and Pattie Suthoff all remain hospitalized.  I assume the same is true for Sanford Horn.  Pray for these folks in their respective situations.

Dale & Karla Bosarge are in Austin, Texas for a ministry opportunity tonight.  Pray that the Lord will give them safety in travel and bless the service.

This Sunday morning’s 10:30AM service marks the end of the GA Post Office.  So, get those Christmas cards in the mail box in the foyer by the end of that service.  Remember, all proceeds go directly to our LMCO.

Speaking of our LMCO, the next shipment of pearls has made it to Ohio so they should be here soon – praise the Lord!  I have to give my brother, Eddie, credit for being a “mover and shaker!”  I guess mama was right!  (You cannot have everything so I will just enjoy being the one with the looks!  LOL!)

We need $17,000 to reach our LMCO goal of $40,000.  I hope Larry Whitehurst, Eddie Hall, Jeff Long, and Joey Switzer remember to bring their check books or coffee cans to the service this Sunday!  Folks, we can reach that goal – together with God’s blessings!

Our two RA basketball teams play in the CAB tomorrow.  The middle school team coached by Ed “Wooden” Williams and Coach Eric “Coach K” Collier plays at 10:00AM while the high school team coached by Bro. Chris “Yao” Taylor plays at noon.  By the way, Rusty Suthoff and Justin Dunnam are the managers for the high school team.

Regular schedule this Sunday minus AWANA & Discipleship Training.  The adult choir presents their musical during the 6:00PM service.  A “sweets” fellowship follows that service.  Ladies, bring the “sweets” and I am not talking about your husbands!

Lisa and I are going to be out of pocket from noon today until the funeral service tomorrow.  This is something we have had planned for a number of weeks.  I am not even taking my computer – wow!  So, if you drive by the Bayou La Batre Inn & Suites do not even notice our vehicle in the parking lot or act like you know us if you come into the BLB Waffle House for supper tonight!

I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus.  Go to church!

P.S. – If you want to read a great “annual” blog, read the one by Joe David Bailey!

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
16
2010
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THURSDAY UPDATE

The arrangements for Betty’s dad, Mr. Burness Walley, are – visitation with the family from 5:30PM until 8:00PM tomorrow night, 12/17, at the Heritage Funeral Home on Highway 63 in Escatawpa, MS.  The service will take place Saturday morning at 10:00AM from the chapel of the funeral home.

Bill Unrue was moved into ICU during the night as he was having difficulty breathing.  He and Roy Blodgett are in the same unit.

Sanford Horn was readmitted to the hospital during the night too.  They are running more tests on him today.

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
16
2010
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THURSDAY, 12/16/10

Betty Creech’s father, Mr. Walley, passed away last night shortly after our 8:00PM Bible study had ended.  I was involved with our Young Adult Bible study so I did not learn of his passing until later.  However, Bro. Jerry & Bro. Kerry, along with Mr. Walley’s pastor, were with the family.  His passing has been expected so I would suppose the funeral service will take place fairly quickly unless they wait on out of town family members.  Pray for Mrs. Walley and the entire family.

Roy Blodgett’s surgery was a success but it was much more involved than they had hoped it would be.  He will be in an ICU overnight and possibly longer.  Pray for Roy & Sue.

Bill Unrue & Pattie Suthoff are both in the hospital.  Bill has pneumonia in one lung and Pattie has a staph infection.  Eddie Hall shared in church last night that Mitch Osborn and family lost their house and belongings in a fire.  Pray for these folks.

I will give props to our young adults as they gave enough money spontaneously last night to take care of buying candy for the AWANA float in the Irvington parade this Saturday.  Way to go YAs!

The post office will be open until this Sunday morning, 12/19.  The pearls have been shipped and the waiting list is pretty long – praise the Lord!

Bro. Chris had a mechanical bull in the CAB last night.  I do not know who “stayed on the longest” but I do know who did not – Soy!  I saw the video where he rode for an amazing “5” (five) seconds!  It took him longer to get on the bull than the time he stayed on!  Amazing!  Think about this – what if the operator had actually turned the bull on?  Rough night as he fell off the bull and then got drilled in cards!

Brianne Woods is sad today as Lamar went home!  Oh well, she will be back with “Bubba” by night fall!  LOL!

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

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |
Dec
15
2010
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WEDNESDAY, 12/15/10

We are on a normal schedule today with one exception.  Our senior high Bible study will meet in the auditorium at 6:00PM.  It all has something to do with a mechanical bull in the gym.  Contact Bro. Chris for the details.

Roy Blodgett is scheduled to have surgery this afternoon.  Presently, we have no one in the hospital – praise the Lord!  Pray for Roy during this surgery and for those battling cancer.

Our total given thus far to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions is $27,323.05 which means we need $12,676.95 to reach our goal.  We have four more Sunday services to reach this goal.  I ask the members of the Friendship family to pray and then give sacrificially.  We need a miracle but that is what God does!  (One thing in our favor is that Joey Switzer is back in town!)

We had a couple of folks bring things to be used as throws in the Irvington Christmas parade this Saturday – thank you!  It would be most helpful if you could bring these things no later than tonight.  Questions?  Contact Tiffany Fox.

Our church hostess, Marisa Felps, tells me we need about four or five folks to help with the fellowship this Sunday evening.  We need all the ladies of the church to bring “sweets” for the fellowship.  This will be a “sweets” only fellowship.

We “may” have another shipment of the pearls in hand by next week.  Watch this blog for updates.  Thank you to Deidra for coming up with this idea and thank you to all who have purchased the pearls up to this point as you are helping us reach our LMCO goal.  Also, do not forget to use the post office being operated by our Girls In Action.  This Sunday morning, 12/19, is the last opportunity to utilize this service!

I am hearing from several folks about how they are ministering to/blessing others during this season.  Some of them are reluctant to share with me but I am asking them to just so I can be encouraged.  Thank you for being a blessing!

I was pretty amazed at how calmly the superintendent of the school system in Panama City, FL handled the situation yesterday.  It is sad that one died but thank God no one else was injured or killed.  Crazy times!

I enjoyed watching the last bit of the Tennessee Lady Vols get beat by the Baylor Lady Bears last night and then seeing the UT men’s team go down in defeat to Oakland – awesome!  I have no plans to send Pat or Bruce Christmas cards this year!  (I am sure that is killing them!)

The Lakers got Andrew Bynum back last night and they rolled to their 18th victory of the season.  If he, and everyone else on the team, stays healthy, look out!

I have enjoyed these cooler temperatures but will be glad when it warms up so the guy in charge of building our house will be able to work!  Too cold to work but not too cold to hunt – what’s up with that?

Christmas Eve service from 5:00 – 6:00PM and Mark Harris on 1/2 – good stuff!

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

Written by Teddie in: Uncategorized |

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