Pastor's Blog

The following update on Mac’s sister was written by Karen McGriff – Linda is doing well. They found that she has fluid on her lungs and she is receiving breathing treatments. They decided not to intubate her at this time. She is still able to talk and move everything. She will be in ICU for at least 7 days. God answers prayers!

Sanna Collier sent me a text about Grant.  The doctor is a little concerned that Grant’s case does not seem to be typical Bell’s Palsy.  Grant will have a MRI next Wednesday, 5/16, unless there is an opening earlier.  Grant’s blood pressure was high today.  He goes back tomorrow to have it checked again.  Pray for Grant, Eric, & Sanna.

Mike Parker’s wife, Carla, begins chemotherapy next Tuesday.  Their son, Zach, is most likely facing surgery too.

There is a young boy named Jose Fernando in the Vencedores dorm at Casa Aleluya who is in a Guatemala City hospital.  He is critically anemic and has received two blood transfusions over the past couple of days.  He is now having nose bleeds.  His dorm parents, Lee & Candy, asked us to pray for him.

Marisa Felps sent me an e-mail saying that her father, Mr. Frank Boykin, will be on the honor flight to Washington DC today.  Pray that those folks will have safe flights and an enjoyable time.

We are on a regular schedule this morning and tonight.

This blog does not endorse saying anything positive about the Celtics!  It was good to see the Hawks take them down last night.  However, it was not good to see the conspiracy that is in place against the Lakers!  No way the Nuggets should have won last night!

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

Bill & Debbie Kendrick’s grandson, Josh, is home from the hospital and hopefully on the road to recovery.

Mac McGriff’s sister had her surgery yesterday.  She had some difficulties with her breathing so they are having to help her in that area.

Caroline Ford will be seeing her doctor today as she did not feel well while we were in Guatemala.

Edna Glover’s brother in the Laurel, MS area is not doing well.

It was too soon yesterday for me to mention the passing of George “Goober” Lindsey.  Pastor Bob Harvey and Dr. Rex Looney are still reeling from this news.

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

Happy first birthday to Emmy!  Yes, our second grandchild entered this world one year ago.  We will have her party  this coming Saturday.

Mac McGriff’s sister, Linda, will undergo surgery today in Birmingham.  She suffered a stroke over the weekend and the prognosis was not good.  However, she is doing really well even though she has two aneurysms which they will take care of in today’s procedure.  Pray for her.

Bill & Debbie Kendrick’s grandson in Alaska was diagnosed wrongly last weekend.  He is now in another hospital in Alaska.  Pray that the doctors can determine the cause of his problems.

Gunnar Howell sees the doctor again tomorrow.  They cannot determine the cause of his problems either.

Grant Collier, Eric & Sanna’s son, has been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy.

Cody Povilonis, Joe & Candy’s oldest son, has a cut on his eyeball.  He sees the doctor again this week.

Pray for these folks plus those who continue to battle cancer.

The Lord blessed and nine of the eleven folks who went to Guatemala/El Salvador are now at home.  Jerry & Gloria Whitmore are scheduled to arrive home tonight.  Much was accomplished.  Long blogs do not get thoroughly read so I will give a report later.

We had a good day yesterday in our services.  Kacy Benson did a good job of sharing the Gospel  Praise the Lord!

Bro. Jerry Hovel is on vacation this week so please do not contact him.

The Lakers won last night to go up 3 – 1 on the Nuggets.  Levi Seymour and I are happy!

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

This is a couple of days late but I want to say a heartfelt “congratulations” to Wes Bates as he graduated from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary this past Friday night, 5/4.  Wes has done so well in following the call of God upon his life.  Pray for him as he now seeks to find the Lord’s will for his life in the church where he is to serve.  I am proud of Wes and humbled to have him as a son in the ministry.

Gunnar Howell was admitted to the hospital last night.  He continues to run a fever so they are going to try and determine the cause.  Pray for Chris, Sherry and Gunnar.

Buddy Brewer was discharged from the hospital.

A baby shower for Ethan & Brittney Nelson takes place this Sunday, 5/6, from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  Eli is scheduled to make his grand appearance into this world in July.  Brittney is Maria Wainwright’s daughter.

Kacy Benson will be our guest in the morning services this Sunday, 5/6.  We will recognize our 2012 graduates as a part of the 10:30AM service.

“The Hunt” takes place tomorrow night.  Contact Bro. Chris for the details.

Six of us are traveling to El Salvador today in order to take part in the adoption of our daughter church, The Vine Bible Church.  Pray for us to have safe travels as we will be driving for five hours or so.  Pray for me as I preach tonight, Bro. Jerry Whitmore tomorrow night, and Dr. Tico Vargas on Sunday morning.

The other five folks here will keep working on the mission house.  Folks, the difference is amazing!  I am so grateful to these folks for all they have done this week.  The truly have a mind to work!

Lord willing, I will be home late tomorrow night.  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning.

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

Thank you to each person who prayed, attended, brought food, et cetera for the Taylor family yesterday.  It is my understanding that the weather was not good due to the continual downpour.  Keep praying for Bro. Chris and his family.

I do not know if Buddy Brewer was dismissed from the hospital or not.  Keep praying for him.

We had a very productive first day of work in Guatemala.  I will not even begin to try and describe everything that took place but suffice it to say that the “look” of the mission house is already completely different.  (Dave Westhouse – your plan worked beautifully!)  This group knows how to work!

I had the opportunity last night to meet with a prospective director of the feeding center.  We are seeking God’s will and God’s person for this important ministry position.

Today, Larry Whitehurst will most likely be meeting with the architect about the feeding center.  He will meet with the contractor later.  Two or three of the ladies will be making a “field trip” to look at some things to help with the update of the mission house.  I have a meeting that could directly affect the future of GRACE Ministries as well.  Pray for us!

Our biggest prayer need today is this – Kim French is in charge of supper tonight!  Pray without ceasing!

The biggest delight for me today is that my sweet wife will be joining us in the early afternoon.  Hooray!

Thanks to all those who filled in for Bro. Chris and me yesterday/last night.  I understand that our attendance was not that good but a large part can be attributed to the weather.  Thank you to those who were able to attend.

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

Please note that the church office will be closed today from 2:00PM until 3:00PM out of respect for the George Taylor family.  Bro. Jerry & Bro. Kerry will be attending the funeral service.

Pray for Bro. Chris and his family as they go through the visitation (noon – 2:00PM) and the service today.  Everything is at the First Evangelical Methodist Church on Padgett Switch Road in Irvington.

Tommy Johnson’s mother was discharged from the hospital on Monday.  Buddy Brewer is hopefully going to be discharged today.

Tommy Johnson’s paternal uncle, Ora, passed away on Monday.  The visitation is tonight with the service at noon tomorrow from Serenity.  Mr. Ora owned the Catalina restaurants.  Pray for the Johnson family.

All ten of us arrived safe and sound to the mission house in Guatemala yesterday afternoon/last night.  We will enjoy breakfast followed by a devotional time and then start slinging paint.  There is much to do over these next few days.

Bro. Jerry Hovel will be preaching in my absence this morning and tonight.

The Lakers are up 2-0 on the Nuggets.  Those dreaded Celtics surprised me with their win last night with Rondo suspended.  Have I ever mentioned that I do not like the Celtics?

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

Out of respect for the George Taylor family, the church office will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday, 5/2) from 2:00 – 3:00PM.

I visited with Tommy Johnson’s mother yesterday morning.  It was yet to be determined if they were going to do the procedure or not.  I did not get an update later in the day.

I visited with Miss Exie Woods in the convalescent home.  She looked and sounded much better.  Attempted to visit with Merwyn Gunter but he was sleeping soundly.

Had a good visit with Buddy Brewer and Miss Vinnie Brewer.  Not sure when they are going to discharge Buddy from the hospital.

Spent some time with Bro. Chris & Nicole.  They are handling his dad’s passing as well as they can.  The arrangements are in a post from yesterday.  The obituary is in today’s paper.  Thanks to Miss Edna for coordinating the food ministry for this family.

Bro. Glenn Vernon passed away this past Sunday.  Glenn served many years at the Mobile Baptist Association Camp in Citronelle.  What a gentleman!  He worked extensively with the MOWA Indians.  He donated his body to science.  I am told that a memorial service will be held at some point in the future.  Pray for his family.

Got to spend several hours working in the garden late yesterday afternoon.  It was hot and I was loving it!  I am not loving the fact that Deidra will get to pick the first snap beans of the season as they are almost ready.  I just hope she keeps Soy out of the garden.  He sprayed Sevin for me last week.  He was so proud that he had sprayed all of my watermelon plants.  Only problem is that I do not have any watermelon plants.  I pray that we get some of that rain coming up from Florida.

It is a little after 2:00AM and I am about to get ready to leave for Guatemala.  I will be joined by Bro. Jerry & Miss Gloria Whitmore.  We should arrive in Guatemala around noon their time.  Rita Boutwell, Clara Broadus, Caroline Ford, Kim French, Gerald Poiroux, Bernard Suthoff and Larry Whitehurst will leave today at noon arriving in GUA at 7:00PM Guatemala time.  We have much to do over the next few days.  Lord willing, I will return home on Saturday night after traveling to El Salvador – more about that later.  This is going to be a very important trip for GRACE Ministries for several reasons.  Pray for this team.

I did not realize the high school girls soccer state tournament would be taking place this week or I would not have scheduled this trip!  MGM plays Daphne tonight – what was I thinking?

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