Pastor's Blog

The Meredith twins are here!  Cortlyn & Caitlyn arrived yesterday morning at 7:52 & 7:53AM respectively and checked in at 5 lbs 15 ounces and 5 pounds 8 ounces and both were 19 inches long!  Everyone is doing well.  I know that Grandma Arlene is beaming (that was the glow you saw in the western sky all day yesterday!) and that Grandpa John is proud too.  Congratulations!

I am “assuming” that Tony Barnes came home from the hospital yesterday.  Those were the plans and I know he was ready!  Pray for his recovery/rehab.

Miss Helen Ruth Brinkman will have laser surgery on her eye on 10/4.  The pressure has built up too much.  Pray for her.

Anna Carol Bosarge continues to experience pain but hopefully the doctors are getting to the cause of the pain.  She has now had three teeth extracted and is on some strong antibiotics.  Pray for her.

Would you take a moment and pray for our missionary friends, Michael & Linda Robertson?  God knows their situation and they do need our prayer support.

The baby shower for Soyetta takes place at our house tomorrow.  It is a come and go affair beginning at 10:30AM and ending at 12:30PM.  Translated – Lisa has already cracked the whip and will have me working in the yard all day today.  No mercy!  Myrna from Smyrna is driving down from TN today.  My niece Jamie?  Not a chance!  (What a great first cousin to Deidra!)

We will host the ministry of Dale Bosarge this Sunday evening.  The meal begins at 5:00PM with the service beginning around 6:00PM.  Everything is in the CAB.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will be there!

Props to Bro. Chris & our senior high students as they set a new attendance record this past Wednesday night.  Awesome!

I hate to say this but LSWho reminds me of the 1992 Bama team.  No flash, just wins!  MSU played better than I thought they would but LSWho is good!  I still have AU over Clemson and OU over the Indians.  (Joe David, please make your own picks and do not simply cut & paste from this blog!)  Yes, I do have Bama over NTU.  BDS has never been louder as Justin Dunnam will be in the house tomorrow night!  (The folks who sit around me will probably never speak to me again!)

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

Visited with Tony Barnes in the hospital yesterday afternoon and he was doing good.  Plans call for him to go home today and receive his PT there.  Keep praying for him and Miss JoNell.

Carla Kyser will have scans next Monday & Tuesday and then receive another treatment one week from today, 9/22.  Keep praying for her.

We had a blessed day in our services yesterday.  The morning service was down a bit numerically but the evening service was average.  We had an average number in our 8:00PM Bible study too.  I thank God for folks who are faithful.

LSWho visits MSU tonight to begin the college football schedule for the weekend.  I am not into predicting games but I do feel LSWho will handle MSU.  (MSU may have read too many papers, magazines, internet articles before the season)  I also feel that AU will take care of Clemson on Saturday morning.  OU will beat FSU Saturday night.

Speaking of AU, Ross tried to add “Spirit” to our prayer list last night but I would not let him do so.

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

Remember me?  It is a long story but I will sum it up real quickly – Morris & Diane Bryant are dear friends to Lisa & me.  We used to travel together on a regular basis.  When I became pastor almost 21 years ago, those trips came to a stop but our friendship did not.  The four of us traveled to Pennsylvania last Thursday and returned home late yesterday afternoon.  We went to see the Amish country and it just so happened  Alabama had a football game at Penn State this past Saturday – what a coincidence.  Morris was in charge of lodging and game tickets – he did well!  I was in charge of transportation – two flight cancellations, delayed luggage, roads closed due to flooding, et cetera and I did not do so well!  However, it was great to spend time with Morris & Diane.  Lisa and I were blessed to be with them!  It is good to be home!

Tony Barnes had his knee replaced Monday.  He was in a great deal of pain yesterday.  I will visit him later today.

Savannah Moore had some problems yesterday and they thought headed to the hospital but ended up in the doctor’s office instead.  She is going to be okay.

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service at 10:00AM and the evening activities/classes/Bible studies.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family present.

Why did I not blog while we were gone?  Limited internet connection, arrived in PA at 4:30AM on Friday, do not normally blog on weekends, and basically took a break from the net as my total time online was way below an hour.  Plus, we were busy eating!  By the way, if any of you ladies know how to cook a shoo-fly pie, Morris loves them!

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

We have been blessed in recent days by not having anyone in the hospital.  It was good to see Herbert Benefield and Warren Guidry in the service yesterday morning.  Herbert begins PT today while Blo Joe has a ways to go.  Pray for them.

John Meredith arrived back in South Carolina safely.  They will do some more blood work.  He should return home a week from today for the birth of the twin grandchildren.

Jerry Whitmore told me of an earthquake in India yesterday that affected the area where P.C. Alexander lives.  It was not a “major” earthquake  but it could have major implications for that area.  Pray for them.

Brenda Timberlake’s sister, Lisa, got a good report from the doctor yesterday regarding her latest scan.  Praise the Lord!

We learned last night that Tony Barnes is going to have a knee replacement surgery on Monday, 9/12.  This will be his second one.  Pray for him as he readies himself to face this procedure and the rehab.

Friendship family, our fellowship on 9/18 is going to be a casserole/dessert affair.  You are asked to bring the food.  Meal begins at 5:00PM followed by the worship service at 6:00PM featuring the ministry of Dale & Carla Bosarge.

Kim French is going to North Carolina next weekend (17th) to watch USA play NC State.  Are you serious?

Another walk outside at 5:00AM today was awesome!  If only we could get a frost!

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

Wow!  I walked outside around 5:00AM and the weather is awesome!  I love cool (colder) temperatures and this morning feels so late October like.  I do not think of it as a “tease” but rather a reminder of just how awesome God is in giving us a glimpse of what is to come.  Life may be “hot” for you right now but God wants you to know that it will get better.  Trust Him!

Bro. Jerry has sent an e-mail to our Sunday School teachers giving each class a goal for Sunday, 9/18.  Teachers, please share your class goal with your members this week and work on reaching and/or exceeding it on that day.  We, with God’s help, can do it!

There is a new disturbance in the lower Gulf of Mexico that could become a tropical depression or more within the next couple of days.  The NHC says it has a 40% chance of becoming a depression or more.  Tropical depression #14 probably deserves our attention too as it has a 90% of becoming a tropical storm or more.  After picking up limbs for two days, I really do not want to see another storm or any type but especially a hurricane.

We are on a regular schedule today with the 10:00AM service and the evening activities.  Jim & Glenda Chinners are cooking for our 8:00PM Bible study.  Lisa always does a great job and I am sure Jim & Glenda will do likewise.  Last week, Caroline Ford provided a wonderful meal.  Our young adults do not want to miss tonight’s Bible study!

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

Yesterday’s weather in Grand Bay was what I had expected on Sunday.  I went out early to do a few things in my garden and just got back in the house before the rains came.  I then spent the rest of the day dodging rain showers while picking up pecan limbs and mowing grass.  The wind never ceased so for every limb we picked up, two more fell to the ground.  However, it was “labor” day and I was intent on working outside.  Good day!  (I knew you were just dying to know what I did yesterday!)

My apologies to Ethan McGath!  I was not impressed with the Georgia uniforms this past Saturday night.  However, after seeing the Maryland uniforms last night. . . . .

We have rescheduled our evening with Dale Bosarge.  It will now take place on Sunday, 9/18.  We will follow the same plan with a meal at 5:00PM followed by a service at 6:00PM.  Everything will take place in the CAB.  We “may” change the menu.  I need to discuss this with Marisa Felps and will let you know.  (Marisa is my “boss” when it comes to church fellowships!)

We are addressing our parking issues.  One thing that we need to know is which “regular attenders” have either a handicap tag on their vehicle or the decal hanging from their mirror.  If you have either, please contact Jerry Whitmore, Rob Nevin, or Larry Whitehurst as soon as possible.  Of course, you can call the church office too.  (Please note that for this matter we are not considering AU tags!)

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

We had a blessed time in our services yesterday.  It was an “odd” day in that we did not know what effect TS Lee was going to have on our local weather.  However, when all was said and done we had just a “regular” day and did not even have much rain.  The attendance in our morning services was down 27% from our August average and our evening service attendance was dwon 35% which was not bad considering the TS and holiday weekend.  I commend the members of the Friendship family for their faithfulness.

Matt & Savannah Moore welcomed their son, Maddox, into this world on Saturday afternoon around 1:30PM.  He checked in at seven pounds (I do not remember the ounces) and was 20 1/2 inches long.  Mother and son are doing fine.

The church office is closed today in celebration of Labor Day.  (Seems conflicting does it not?)  I pray that you will have a great day in the Lord!

It is almost 6:00AM and here is where we stand at the present.  Bro. Benny and I have talked this morning and he has decided to not put our buses on the road today.  I support this decision.

We will have a regular schedule this morning worship @ 8:00AM, SS @ 9:15AM, and worship @ 10:30AM.

As it stands presently, we will have a service at 6:00PM.  However, a final decision will be made during our 10:30AM worship service.  So, check back here for the final word around noon today.  Thanks!

Blessings!

We will have our regular 6:00PM service this Sunday, 9/4/11.  However, the fellowship is postponed and we will not have choir practice, AWANA, or Discipleship Training.  I will be preaching in the 6:00PM service.

We are not asking folks to risk injury or get out in horrible weather.  However, if you are able and the weather conditions are favorable, come join us.  Obviously, we could change these plans and, if so, that announcement will come Sunday morning.

So, we are on a regular schedule for Sunday morning and will have a 6:00PM service in the auditorium.  Thanks for being understanding and flexible.

By the way, Mrs. Aldruda Hines passed away.  The visitation with the family is tonight and the service is tomorrow.  Pray for the Hines family.

Also, Kevin Fox was involved in an accident.  His neck is broken and he is supposed to have surgery today.  Pray for Kevin.

Blessings!

I am writing this entry a little before 3:00AM and I have to be honest in saying that my mind has wandered through the night to 25 years ago.  It was on September 2, 1986 that Lisa’s only brother, Michael, was involved in a fatal automobile accident.  It seems like yesterday and it also seems like an eternity ago.  I do know that death stings!  I would ask you to pray for Charles, Ann, Kim & Lisa today.  Thanks!

By the way, Michael & Dub Ladnier were big buddies.  Three short years later, 9/2/89, Dub would pass from this life and join Michael in heaven.  So, pray for Cecil, Myrtle, & John Milton today too.

I am also watching, praying, and considering what to do as the system in the Gulf is going to most assuredly dump a ton of rain on us this weekend.  We will have a regular schedule on Sunday morning.  I have sent our deacons an e-mail asking for their thoughts on the Sunday evening fellowship/service.  The rains are supposed to be fairly torrential along with wind.  Please check this blog for a final word.  We will definitely make the call by tomorrow.  I do not want to be unfair to Dale & Karla.  Deacons, please contact me today.  Thanks!

Amy Huhn’s mother is in the hospital.  She is having some problems related to the chemotherapy.  Pray for her.

John Meredith’s problem has been e-coli.  They grew a culture and gave him that word yesterday.  He and Arlene are traveling home today.  Pray for them as they travel and for John as he recovers.

Herbert Benefield came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  He will not be down long b/c he is Herbert!  Pray for him!

The service for Mr. Skelton takes place today at 2:00PM preceded by two hours of visitation.  Everything is at Serenity.  Pray for the family.

Carla Kyser received her treatment yesterday.  Brenda Timberlake’s heart cath showed no blockages.

Looking forward to 11:21AM tomorrow.  Bill Kendrick and I are excited!

I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus.  Stay safe.  Check back for the details regarding Sunday night’s service.