Pastor's Blog

I am sitting in Tom & Shari Compagner’s house as I write this entry.  Lisa and I arrived here around 1:00AM today as our flights from New Orleans and Atlanta were delayed.  However, we arrived safely and give God the glory for His mercy.

Visited with Mitchel & Tiffany Fox yesterday in the hospital.  At that point, it was unclear when Mitchel will go home.  The surgery was a success but now the key will be to Mitchel adhering to a special diet i.e. no soft drinks, et cetera.

Bro. Kerry went to Darrell McMann’s surgery and I left before getting an opportunity to speak to him.  I assume all went well.  Pray for him.

Pray for Pastor Jack Bailey, Associate Pastor Joe David Bailey, and the members of Danville Baptist Church as they will host a block party in Hackleburg, AL tomorrow.  Of course, this is one of the towns that was completely devastated by the tornadoes on April 27.  Pray for them as they do all of the final stuff to get ready for this ministry opportunity.

Food for thought – the L.G. Camp, Jr. mission house needs some attention.  If you are interested in possibly joining a team to merely go to the mission house and work for a week, speak to me this Sunday.  This would be at your own expense and we are looking at late August/early September tentatively.   At this point, it is a “thinking out loud” process.

Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit this Sunday morning, 8/7, at 8:00AM.  I hope to be joined by many of the members of the Friendship family as we begin a new church year with everyone, adults and students, going to their “right” Sunday School class.

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

Darrell McMann will have outpatient surgery this morning.  Pray that all will go well.

Mitchel’s surgery went well but he remains in the hospital.  Not sure when he will go home as I was told it could be today or a couple of days.  Pray for his recovery.

Amy Walker “may” get to go home from the hospital today.  Carla Kyser is doing okay in receiving her new chemo.  Belvin McDonald got a good report regarding his cancer as has his daughter in Florida.

I met Tom Compagner in December of 1998 on my first trip to Guatemala.  Little did I know at that time that he and I would become great friends or that through him I would make many, many wonderful friends and supporters of GRACE Ministries.  I met Tom’s dad, Mr. Milford Compagner, in December of 1999 and he quickly became one of those friends and supporters.  Mr. Mil went to be with the Lord yesterday as he passed from this life while sleeping.  I cannot begin to tell you how many hogs Mr. Mil paid for as we have hosted an annual “pig roast” for GRACE Ministries.  He not only paid for the hogs but was always there to help roast it and then pull the meat.  Great friend!

Lord willing, Lisa and I will fly out late this afternoon and will get back home in the wee hours Sunday morning.  If you want to read Mr. Mil’s obit and see his picture then just go to www.ynetmafh.com.  You can leave a condolence there too.  Pray for Tom and his family during this time of sorrow.

Yes, I read the story where the judge in Guatemala has ruled that a young adopted girl must be returned because she was kidnapped from her birth mother.  That is why the international adoptions from Guatemala were stopped several years ago.  It is a sad situation.

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

Mitchel Fox is scheduled to have surgery today.  He has to be at the hospital mid-morning so I suspect the actual surgery will not begin until after noon.  Pray for him as he will be in the hospital for a couple of days.

Amy Walker had surgery yesterday.  I do not know the details but do ask that you join me in praying for her.

Talked to Sherry Howell last night about Gunnar.  He is retaining fluid but the doctor says it takes time for the shunt to work.  Each person is different in the amount of time it takes so they will check him again in a couple of weeks.  According to Sherry, he is not a happy camper as the fluid makes him uncomfortable.  Pray for Gunnar.

Shea Childress had a scan done this past Monday and should get the results today.  Pray that it will be a good word.

Teresa Ladnier continues her recovery at home.  Keep praying for her.

Read where a lady in Australia is suing the doctor who delivered her.  She is 25 years old.  Says her mother wanted a C-section but forceps were used instead causing the baby (25 year old woman now) health problems.

Today is a big day as the season tickets to Alabama football are set to arrive.  Andy Hamil is out of town so he has his ticket delivered to us.  For the right price. . . .

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service and evening activities.  Bro. Chris tells me they are having a farewell/welcome part in the Bible studies.  Translated – this is it for the seniors as they have to move on and the sixth graders are being welcomed into the middle school group.

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

Teresa Ladnier came home from the hospital yesterday.  Pray for her as she spends the next six weeks or so recovering from this surgery.

I did not get an update from Gunnar’s visit to the doctor but will contact Sherry today.  Keep praying.

Mitchel Fox will have surgery tomorrow.  He will be in the hospital for a few days.

Carla Kyser continues to receive her treatments and I ask that you keep praying for her.  She is a sweetheart!

One of the things that I absolutely love about Guatemala is their weather!  Since I have been home, I have worked outside on two different occasions – one early and one late.  While the temperatures have been okay (80’s) the humidity has been tough.  However, I love where I live and that is part of living on the Gulf Coast!

I had not seen Titus & Emmy in ten days as they were on vacation upon my return from Guatemala.  It was a delight to see them yesterday afternoon and to have the entire family over for supper last night.  God is good!

I have to give Soy his props!  I pulled my corn stalks up yesterday afternoon and put them on the burn pile.  Soy felt sorry for me and came to help.  He got hot and really dirty.  I am skeptical as to “why” he helped but am also very grateful.

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

We enjoyed another good Sunday.  The day was capped by the ministry of Wes & Rebekah Bates as she shared a message in song and Wes preached.  They did a good job and it was good to see them.  They will be going back to Ft. Worth this week as Wes begins his final year of seminary classes.  Pray for them.

Justin Dunnam joined the Friendship family on statement in our early service yesterday.  Dunnam has been attending our services for months.  We welcome him into the Friendship family.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

Sara Nell Moulds shared that Gunnar Howell is having some fluid retention problems again.  Chris & Sherry will be taking him back to the doctor today in order for the doctor to “fine tune” the shunt that was placed in his body on July 21.  Pray for Gunnar.

Teresa Ladnier has not come home from the hospital as of yet but is expected to do so today.  I think she is making improvement but still needs our prayers.

Christie Wynn e-mailed to say that Keith has several appointments with doctors this week and asked us to pray for him.

A neighbor to Miss Vinnie Brewer passed away yesterday.  It was an unexpected passing so please pray for that family.

The “Stan Hatcher Soccer Complex” has been seeing a lot of action lately but not from our Hispanic friends.  A group of our students/young adults have been using it often and feel they are ready to challenge the folks from the Spanish ministry.  I shared this with our Spanish friends in the service yesterday afternoon and they just laughed!  Soy, Dunnam, Rusty, – I will go with the Spanish guys!

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