Pastor's Blog

Betty Carol Neal was admitted to the hospital yesterday and will have her lower leg/foot amputated today.  As you know, she recently had her other leg/foot amputated.  Betty Carol is emotionally low and your prayer for her would be appreciated.

I spent a good bit of time with Neal Holmes yesterday afternoon.  His wife thought he might be passing but that turned out to not be the case.  Someone from the Friendship family cooked supper yesterday for Carolyn and the family.  Someone else from the Friendship family took them a cake within the past couple of days.  I appreciate these acts of ministry.

Kenny & Katie’s baby is named Vivie Lou and she checked in at 7 lbs and 10 ounces and is 20 inches long.  Vivie had a slight heart murmur but the doctor says it will correct itself in time.

Bill Unrue was in the hospital from last Friday until yesterday afternoon.  They did some tests and he will see the doctor later for the results.

Melinda Spiller remains about the same.  They did not get the biopsy results yesterday.  However, the indications are that she will have surgery in about three weeks.  It will be the same surgical procedure that football coach, Glenn Vickery, from Daphne High School recently underwent in Birmingham.  It is called the Whipple surgery and is a major surgery.

Bill Kendrick’s mother was in a meeting with someone from the hospital when I stopped by there yesterday.

Millie Spiller’s situation remains unchanged.  Today is her 83rd birthday.  I do not generally do birthdays on this blog (except my family) but since it is 12/12/12 then I am making an exception.  It will do Millie a world of good emotionally to hear some well wishes today.

Speaking of 12/12/12, my good friend in the ministry, Dr. Jack Bailey, has diligently researched this and has come to the conclusion that it will be December of 2112 before this happens again.  Wow, what an intelligent man as he only researched this for about three months before reaching this conclusion.  Folks, no need to “check” him on this as he never prints anything in his blog until he knows it to be a fact!

Bro. Chris has 2013 calendars available.  They are great calendars and only cost $6.  Great pictures with KJV verses.  First come, first served.

Today is the last day to order poinsettias to be placed in the auditorium.

The GA post office remains open through next Wednesday, 12/19.

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight.  Hope to see many members of the Friendship family in attendance.  I am loving these cooler temperatures!

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

Good Tuesday morning.  Because of yesterday afternoon’s update, I will not repeat myself.  I do plan on basically making the same rounds this morning so I will update the baby’s weight, length, and name later today or in the morning.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow with the morning service and evening activities.

I read on a 12/3/12 blog that this month has five Saturdays, five Sundays, and five Mondays.  That is true.  However, the blog also said this only happens once every 824 years.  That is not true.  As Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend!” It happened in 2007 and will happen again in 2018.  (Al has tried to warn folks for years that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet!)  I expect that blogger to offer an apology in tomorrow’s post or I am going to call Al personally!  LOL!

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

Kenny & Katie Erwin welcomed their newest daughter into this world between 8:30 – 9:00AM today.  Lisa and I were there for the birth but when we left they had not gotten the weight, length, et cetera.  Mother and daughter seemed to be doing fine.

Melinda Spiller is jaundiced to day.  Obviously, this was my first time to see her so I cannot say if she looked better or worse.  A biopsy was scheduled for today and the results should be known tomorrow or Wednesday.

Millie Spiller took a fall this past Saturday and injured her ribs and side.  She is at home recovering.  Her greatest concern at this time is for her daughter.  Millie is going to have some tough decisions to make regarding Melinda.  Her son, Bobby, is here from Colorado and will help his mom make this decisions.  Pray for them to have wisdom.

Neal Holmes was awake and we had a nice conversation.  I have to be honest in saying that Neal and I always talk Bama football as he is an avid fan of the Tide.

Merwyn Gunter, Exie Woods and Marie Howard all seemed to be doing well.

Bill Kendrick’s mother was alert and said she was doing okay.  IMO, Bill certainly favors his mother.

Sharon Jardee said that today has been her best day since coming home from the hospital last Friday afternoon.  I scolded her for going to the senior adult Christmas fellowship on Saturday.  (It did not do any good as she is a stubborn thing – LOL!)

Bro. Chris has some 2013 calendars available for $6.  They are scripture calendars and use KJV.  Folks, these are very nice calendars.  Contact him directly (445 5415) or call the church office (445 5412) to secure these.

The Lord blessed and we had a very good day in our services yesterday.  I appreciate your faithfulness!

The supper last night was blessed and a success!  We give God the glory!  The deacons, staff, and hostess committee all get an “A” for their work.  The church family gets an “A” for attending, bringing the food, and helping clean up afterwards.  I think we have found the answer for our annual Christmas fellowship as the positive comments were very numerous.  Again, we give God the glory!

Kenny & Katie Erwin will welcome a daughter into this world this morning.  Pray that everything will go well.

Bill Kendrick’s mother is in a local hospital.  This is most likely the first step in her moving to a convalescent home facility.

Linda Green has a step granddaughter in a Birmingham hospital.  She is having serious issues with her heart.

Carla Kyser has had to stop taking her meds again due to the side effects.  Pray that the doctors can find a way for her to receive this treatment without the severity of the side effects.

I will give updates on Melinda Spiller, Neal Holmes and Sharon Jardee either later today or in the morning.

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

I am sitting in the Atlanta airport and just received a message that Melinda Spiller is not doing well physically.  I will not go into the details for fear of getting something wrong.  I do know that Millie is upset and asks for our prayer support.  Obviously, Melinda remains hospitalized.

This day never comes without me thinking about Pearl Harbor.  I used to listen to Bro. Cecil Ferguson’s stories about WWII and those included Pearl Harbor.  Lisa and I had the privilege, honor, or whatever the proper and respectful word is to be on a boat above the USS Arizona in 1994.  A very humbling experience.  I think God for the men and women of our military – past and present.

Sharon Jardee’s blood pressure dropped significantly so she remains hospitalized.  John Curl’s mother also remains in the hospital but is supposed to be going to a rehab facility.  Melinda Spiller remains in the hospital.  If she misses church this Sunday (Grand Bay C of G) I think it will be the first time in like almost 40 years.  They will probably have to tie her down to keep her in that hospital bed!

The doctor is placing Bill Unrue in the hospital today for some tests.

Neal Holmes was alert yesterday.  There is a need for a roll away bed for Carolyn to use.  If anyone knows of one, please contact Bro. Jerry and he will give you the information.

The 2012 pastors’ conference in El Salvador is now history.  It was not as well attended as we had thought but it was a blessed conference.  Michael Mason & Joe David Bailey both did a nice job of preaching the Word yesterday.  (Bro. Michael can preach Junior Hill’s messages about as good as Junior himself!)  As fellow ministers, we have a great time of fellowship riding in the van and sitting around the table.  That too is a blessing.

Upward basketball begins tomorrow morning.  Pray for this ministry.

Ladies, please remember the wedding shower for Erin Tillman this Sunday, 12/9, from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  Registered at BB&B and Target.

Our church wide Christmas supper/fellowship takes place this Sunday night, 12/9, beginning at 6:00PM in the CAB.  The church will provide the meat (turkey & ham), bread, and drinks.  You are asked to bring a side dish and dessert.  Please bring enough for those attending with you plus one.

The ministerial staff, deacons, and their wives are asked to go to the CAB immediately following the 10:30AM service in order to clean up and then set up for the supper.  As Miss Camp says, “many hands make light work!”

Pray for the eight of us as we travel home today.  Joe David, Keith, & BJ leave early while the other five of us leave in the early afternoon.

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

It is possible that Sharon Jardee will be discharged from the hospital today.  Keep praying for her.

Millie Spiller’s daughter, Melinda, is in the hospital.  It is possible that she will have her gall bladder removed but they are going to do some more tests before making that decision.

Our Upward basketball league play begins this Saturday.  Pray for Kristy Sullenberger as she leads this ministry and all who are involved as players, coaches, fans, et cetera.

The pastors’ conference is going well.  The men preaching/teaching have done a great job.  I can tell you one thing for sure – it is hot in El Salvador!

Happy birthday to my father-in-law, Charles Clark.  He has been the best father-in-law I have ever had!

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

Again, sorry for the lateness of this post.  We are in the midst of the morning session of the pastors’ conference in El Salvador.  Bro. Keith Martin just finished preaching the first service.  Chris, BJ, Terry & Joe David are presently teaching break out sessions.

Bro. Jerry says that Sharon Jardee has had some chest pains but the nurse says it is normal.  Sharon is in ICU and will be in the hospital for a few days.

Bro. Jerry visited with Neal & Carolyn Holmes last night and he had a good day yesterday.  You realize that “good day” is a relative term.

Ladies, please remember the wedding shower for Erin Tillman this Sunday afternoon, 12/9, from 2:00 until 3:30PM.  She is registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target.

The Lottie Moon post office is open and poinsettias can be ordered through 12/12.

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I apologize for this entry being posted way late today.  I will not even try to explain but will tell you that I am posting at the earliest moment I can even though it is almost 10:00AM.  I am literally aboard a plane flying from Atlanta to San Salvador as I type this.  I am joined by Johnny Tucker, Terry Nappier, Michael Mason & Chris Taylor.  We are headed to El Salvador to take part in the pastors’ conference tonight through Thursday night.  Joe David Bailey, BJ Parson and Keith Martin arrived in ES last night.  Tico Vargas and Lazaro Suruy will join us today as they drive from Guatemala.  Pray for the conference.  (Pray for us as a team since we will have to put up with Michael’s constant whining!  The guy thinks he is Elvis Presley or someone like that!)

Sharon Jardee suffered a heart attack during the night and had a heart cath performed this morning.  The doctor placed a stent in her heart and she was already in a room before 10:00AM.  Pray for her recovery.

Visited with Merwyn Gunter again yesterday and he just seems to be going down physically to me.  Also saw Millie Spiller and she was in excellent spirits as usual!

I need the ladies of the Friendship family to remember the wedding shower for Erin Tillman and Clint McDonald this Sunday, 12/9, from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  They are registered at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, and Grand Bay Feed & Seed. I appreciate our ladies for supporting these showers.

Met with Marisa yesterday morning and we will be having turkey and ham for supper this Sunday night, 12/9, beginning at 6:00PM.  You are asked to bring a side dish plus a dessert.  Please bring enough of each for those attending with you plus one more.  The church will furnish the meat, the bread, and the drinks.

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

Visited with Neal this morning and he is pretty low physically.  We did have a conversation but he is declining fairly rapidly.  Pray for Neal and his family.