Pastor's Blog

Spoke to Kim French earlier today and to Charles Stringfellow tonight.  The visitation with the Stringfellow family will take place Monday morning from 10:00AM until noon.  The funeral service will begin at noon.  Everything will take place from Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore, Alabama.  Keep praying for the Stringfellow family as they go through this most difficult time.

Word came late this afternoon via Bobby Stork that McKenzie Smith passed away today.  She was 8 years old and has been battling cancer for some time now.  Pray for her family.

It is 9:45PM as I type this and Greg Boutwell just called to say that Brian Stringfellow passed away just a few minutes ago.  Brian was 34 years old.  Pray for Brian’s family.  Brian is the nephew of Rita Boutwell & Diane Trotti.

Tentative arrangements for McKenzie are Monday night/Tuesday.  Obviously, the arrangements for Brian have not been completed.

Pattie Suthoff remains in the hospital but is thinking that she “could” be discharged today.  Now, that is her “thinking” and not the doctor talking.  She sounds pretty rough but says she is much better and Bernard concurs.

Lois Kirschenman got a favorable report from her test yesterday.  The tumor has decreased in size, there are no new “hot” spots and she does not need any more chemo.  Praise the Lord!

Vera Bosarge asked us to pray for a young girl who is a friend of Vera’s niece.  This young girl has a brain tumor and will have surgery next week.

Pastor Eric Everhart from Michigan posted last night that he is still experiencing pain from his surgery but is looking forward to getting home today.  It is a little before 6:00AM and that team is leaving the mission house in a few minutes headed to the airport in Guatemala City.  Pray the Pastor Eric will have an uneventful trip home and will mend nicely.  (By the way, a team from Lakeside Baptist in Birmingham leaves for Guatemala and the mission house today so pray for them too.  The will be led by Pastor Breck Ladd)

We are going to observe the ordinance of baptism this Sunday evening as a part of our evening worship service.  All baptismal candidates should meet in the office at 5:30PM, bring a change of clothes, and a towel.

How did my meeting go with the guy from the state office?  Wow, he was “hammering” me pretty good until I simply said “Jack Bailey!”  He looked at me in disbelief and asked if I knew Pastor Jack.  The “Pastor Jack Bailey” who is very well known withing the state office?  When I answered in the affirmative he simply said that we were doing “great” and I could have any state office I desired!  Mama always said it was not “what” you know but “who” you know.  I am now a believer!  Thanks Pastor Jack!

Grouper season opened April 1 and Tony Hacker “failed” to tell me before they went fishing last Saturday.  That is okay as they caught no grouper!  That should be a huge lesson to Tony and Larry Crawley!

Brad, Daphne, Deidra, Titus, and I began planting a garden yesterday afternoon.  Soy?  Did the “county worker” thing!  He did want to know when we could begin to eat stuff from the garden.  Can you say Rusty Suthoff?

Nanette Fontenot contacted me yesterday to remind me that we did not used to just date but that we almost got married!  She wanted me to clarify that for all thirteen of our readers.  (What difference does it make?)

Gotta go.  Mowed grass until midnight last night but did not finish.  Lisa says I have to finish that task and then buy groceries.  Charles has already called wanting to know if I am going to mow his yard today.  Eddie sent me an e-mail saying his grass in OB looks ragged.  Soy wants me to wash his vehicle.  Does anyone have any Calgon?

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

Morris tried to comment on today’s blog but got blocked.  (Glad to know that filter is working – LOL!)  Here is his comment:

On a separate note, one of my faithful “Young Professionals” SS class members blasted a 3 run homer to lead her team to a 4-3 victory over the #2 NAIA team in the nation. Korie Fontenot hit the 3 run shot – and they still haven’t found the ball – to lead UM to a 4-3 victory against William Carey. Way to represent Korie.

Have I ever mentioned that I used to date Korie’s mom back in the day?  Congratulations Korie!

Praise the Lord –  the number of folks from the Friendship family who are hospitalized has dwindled to one!  Pattie Suthoff remains in the hospital battling pneumonia but everyone else i.e. Jackie Goff, Ava Chambliss, Karen McGriff  has been discharged.  I asked Marisa about Carla and she is doing okay but still needs our prayer support.  Thank you for praying for one another!

We had a good Wednesday.  Our student ministry enjoyed another great night with a total of 191 students in attendance.  We were blessed to have Rob Nevin’s brother, Steve, sing for us in our 7:00PM service.  Steve pastors in Georgia but was a music minister prior to becoming a pastor (reminds me of Jack Bailey) and did a very nice job of ministering through song last night.  Our morning attendance was strong too.  God is good!

There is a student group from Byron Center, MI using the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house in Guatemala this week.  Their student minister, Eric Everhart, began to have some pain on Tuesday.  Long story short – he was taken to a hospital in Chimaltenango where an emergency appendectomy was performed around 6:00PM.  He did well and was back at the mission house by 4:00PM yesterday.  The group travels home tomorrow so pray for Pastor Eric.

The Alabama Baptist State Convention is sending a guy to see me today.  I do not know if that means I am in trouble or what but I do plan on throwing around  Pastor Jack Bailey’s name just to impress them!

The Spurs will now have the best record in the West which means the Lakers will have to ultimately win it on the road.  Can do!

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

Pattie Suthoff was admitted to the hospital yesterday as she is battling pneumonia.  Little Ava Chambliss was not allowed to go home but her mom, Bridgett, was discharged.  Bill Goff was also discharged while Miss Jackie Goff remains in the hospital.  Miss Jackie has been moved into a regular room.  Pray for these folks.

Karen McGriff is in a room and seems to be doing well all things considered.  She will most likely be discharged tomorrow.  Mac told me that he was going “to make a pallet in the back of the truck” so Karen could lay down for the ride home from Birmingham.  I just hope it does not rain!  LOL!  Pray for Karen’s recovery from surgery.

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service at 10:00AM and all of the various evening Bible studies/classes.  Our deacons are asked to meet with me in my office at 6:00PM.

It is a pretty sad day when the women’s championship game is probably more exciting than the men’s game.  I watched a few minutes of it simply because Notre Dame was getting beat and that is, in my opinion, always a good thing!  (Have not gotten over the 1973 bowl game)  I still cannot believe Butler shot 18%!

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

This entry is being posted on Monday night as I do not anticipate having access to the net in the morning.  Karen McGriff, according to the doctor, did well through her surgery.  She will be in the hospital for another day or two.  Lisa and I will go visit her Tuesday morning before heading back to Grand Bay.  (Gena, I did not get your text until after I had left the hospital.  Will take care of it in the morning.)

Grandma Liz Whalen posted a comment on yesterday’s entry.  Ava is better.  She and mom could come home today.  Praise the Lord!

I do not have an update on Bill & Jackie Goff but am living by the “no news is good news” philosophy.  Keep praying for them!

Many of you already know that Lisa & I are now awaiting the arrival of our third grandchild!  Yes, Deidra is with child!  She is due November 17.  (I will be in Guatemala so I hope they take lots of pictures!)  Please join me in praying that she will give birth to a girl and not a Soy, Jr!  Oh my!

That “hollering” you heard from the west last night was Jack Ciak as the UConn men’s team won the NCAA Division I basketball championship.  Congratulations!  Can I simply say that was probably the “ugliest” championship game I have ever watched!  Did Butler know they had a game?

I had a short visit with Joe David Bailey yesterday afternoon.  Last night, Lisa & I joined Craig & Jennifer Moss for supper.  It was great to see Joe, Craig, & Jennifer.  Okay, it was great to see Jennifer!

GROW tonight.

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

Sorry for the lateness of this entry.  Lisa & I drove to Birmingham last night arriving here early in the morning.  I am just now getting online.  I will leave in a few minutes to go be with Mac & Karen McGriff as she is scheduled for surgery at noon today.  Of course, that could be pushed to a later time as so often happens.  Pray that the surgery will go well.

Bill & Jackie Goff remain hospitalized as does Bridgett & Ava Chambliss.  I am thinking Bridgett may be discharged today but Ava could be kept because of her heart rate issuses.  Miss Jackie may have been moved from the ICU yesterday.  Pray for these folks.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  What a joy to baptize Maria & Logan Wainwright in our evening service.  Again, I appreciate folks who are faithful!

That loud wailing noise you heard from the West last night was Jack Ciak mourning the loss by his beloved UConn women’s basketball team.  Listen again tonight and you will hear it again as the men’s team goes down in defeat to the Butler Bulldogs!  By the way, Joe David Bailey said no one would watch the VCU/Butler game – best ratings since 2005!

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

Bill & Jackie Goff need our prayer support.  Bill is better and may be discharged from the  hospital tomorrow pending test results.  Miss Jackie is in ICU and is not doing so well.  Pray for them and their family.

Marshall Hyatt, Debbie’s son, spent a couple of days in the hospital.  As I was on my way to visit him yesterday, “C” called to tell me that he had been discharged.  Not sure if they ever completely diagnosed his problem or not.  Pray for him.

Speaking of Debbie, the funeral service for Cameron Thompson took place yesterday morning.  Even though they were not blood relatives, the Richerson/Hyatt family were very close friends.  Pray for this family.

Spoke to Sherry Howell via the phone yesterday afternoon to check on her uncle, J.T. Johns, who was injured in an auto accident on Wednesday.  He remains in the hospital but could come home today.  Pray for him!

I hear the yard sale is going well.  I have always heard that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” and I now believe it!  Do not forget the meal/auction tonight.

The “salt mine boss” wanted me to come back to OB today but I told him that I had to spend some time with my family which translated means that Charles is demanding that I mow his grass!  He even watered it yesterday in anticipation of my mowing today!  My real hope is to get a few things planted in a garden today but we will see!

I am going with Butler & UConn in tonight’s games.

Dr. Mark & Dr. Karen Stid along with their three children stopped by for a late supper and fellowship last night.  It was a very quick visit but Lisa and I so enjoyed seeing them and showing them around Grand Bay (took three minutes – LOL).  They are driving to FL for a family vacation.  Mark leads the medical portion of our GRACE Ministries trips and Karen is very involved as well.  As a matter of fact, their whole office is involved with GRACE Ministries.

T. Garrett, your grandmother needs a good lawyer and legal help.  She is about to own a business in downtown Grand Bay!  The details are too “hot” for me to discuss in a public setting (we have almost 13 readers now).

Gotta go.  It is a little after 7:00AM and Charles is already calling to see “if” I am going to cut grass today.  Soy volunteered to help and then told me that he & Deidra are going to spend the day in New Orleans with Myrna from Smyrna and Curtis.  Par for the course!

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

Chase & Bridgett Chambliss are the proud parents of Ava Marie as she entered this world late yesterday afternoon.  She checked in at 6 pounds and 11 ounces.  She came via an emergency c-section but mother and daughter were doing fine.  Congratulations to Chase & Bridgett, grandma Liz, grandpa John, Aunt Thea, and Chase’s family!