Pastor's Blog

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight but that is one adjustment to the meeting place.  All of the middle school and high school students will meet in the youth building tonight only.  That service begins at 7:00PM.

Sara Ladnier, Kathy’s daughter, is having tests done today because of her Crohn’s disease which is seemingly getting worse.  Pray for Sara today.

The visitation with the Cumbie family takes place tonight from 5:00 until 8:00PM at the Mobile Memorial Garden Funeral Home.  The service take place from the chapel tomorrow at 10:00AM.

Sanna’s niece got the results from her scan yesterday.  It was not the news they wanted to hear.  She will soon begin chemotherapy treatments.

Cecil, Myrtle, & John Milton’s uncle Billy remains hospitalized in his battle against leukemia.

Today is the deadline for members of the Friendship family to sign up for the November GRACE trip.  Plans call for us to have two weeks and I will lead one team and Mark Mast will lead the other team.  The dates will be Monday, 11/11, through Monday, 11/25.  Contact me if you want to sign up.  There will probably be spaces available since we are going with two teams.  However, no promises.  These trips include folks from Alabama, Michigan and Canada.

Spring forward!  Time changes this Saturday night, 3/9, which means we lose an hour of sleep.  It is important for all of us to remember this so we will not be late for Sunday and/or the worship services.

I have always said that if you want folks to talk nice about you then just die.  Chavez did so yesterday and Jimmy Carter is pouring on the praises – is he serious?  Wow!

Meanwhile, the leaders in Washington are bemoaning being sequestered and are telling us all of the things that are being eliminated i.e. tours of the White House.  However, we gave Egypt 250 million dollars yesterday!

Hooray for Sears and JC Penney’s!  It is being reported that they have pulled the advertisements from the SNL show because of the “skit” about Jesus a couple of weeks back!  I applaud their action.  Christians should show their support by buying their products.

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

I love Sundays – all of them!  I really do!  However, if I had a “least” favorite Sunday of the year it would be the second Sunday in March each year as that is the Spring time change.  That means we lose an hour of sleep this Saturday night, 3/9.  Please remember to set your clocks forward one hour before going to bed on Saturday night.

The visitation with the Barney Cumbie family will take place tomorrow night, 3/6, from 5:00 – 8:00PM at the Mobile Memorial Garden Funeral Home on Three Notch Road.  The funeral will take place on Thursday, 3/7, at 10:00AM from the chapel of the funeral home.

As far as I know at this time, the family will be fed by the Cedar Grove Baptist Church which is where Barney attended.  Thanks to those who have asked about this ministry.

Visited briefly with Miss Edith Kelley yesterday.  The hospice nurse and the aide were there so I prayed and left.  Miss Edith told me that she is “still kicking” and thanked us for the prayers.

Visited with Kevin Woods in the hospital.  He seemed to be in good spirits.  I think he can see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel as far as getting out of the hospital in another month or two.

Visited with Ronnie Glass as well.  Ronnie is having an issue with his blood that takes precedence over the dialysis and cancer treatment.

Leslie Williams posted a comment on yesterday’s entry that gives an update on Katie and the baby.

Tim Knighten sent an update on his step-mother.  She remains on the vent which seems to be a precautionary measure at this point and will most likely be sent to a rehab center later this week.  Tim thinks this will be a month or two process.

Visited with Miss Exie Woods and Marie Howard in the convalescent home yesterday and both seemed to be doing well.

If my memory serves me correctly, Dale & Karla are Houston for a ministry opportunity tonight.  Pray for them.

If you have items that can be donated to the yard sale, please take them to the CAB today or tomorrow by noon.  The sale takes place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Bro. Chris continues to work on the GRACE Ministries website.  I appreciate his efforts.

The deacons are leading the effort to get the new office suite ready and I thank them for doing this.

BTW, as I was visiting Kevin Woods yesterday, he told me that a lady from our church has visited last week.  I thought that I knew who it was until he said that she was a “nice” lady!  LOL!  (Who?  She knows!)

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

A quick update on the folks for whom we have been praying:

Miss Edith Kelley remains at home under hospice care.  Bro. Kerry said she doing about the same.

Dawn Baria was experiencing some physical difficulties yesterday.  The hospice nurse continues to say that Dawn’s time is very limited.

Tim Knighten’s step-mother, Marilyn, remains hospitalized.  Tim spent the weekend at the hospital with her.

Kevin Woods is still hospitalized and is doing therapy.

Ronnie Glass has been moved to a regular hospital room.  He is having dialysis and will be doing cancer treatment as well.

Billy Ladnier is in a local hospital and has been diagnosed with leukemia.

Sanna Collier’s niece, Chastity, has received the prognosis that her cancer is invasive.  She will have a scan today.

Carla Kyser continues her treatments.  She was having a few issues last week.

Barney Cumbie passed away yesterday morning.  I thought Barney was close to 70 years of age but was almost 80.  The arrangements are incomplete.

Peggy Knighten’s son, Bradley, will be stationed in South Korea for the next year.  He leaves this Saturday.

Pray for all of these needs.

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

The memorial service for Jodie Johnson’s father will take place this afternoon from the Coden Methodist Church beginning at 3:00PM.  Pray for the Ziglar family during this time.

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight.

Was able to attend the visitation with the Graham family and then the service for Richard Roberts yesterday afternoon.  I appreciate Bro. Jerry & Bro. Kerry being at both of those places as well.

The morning and late afternoon were spent by me eating weeds.  Charles has been “complaining” that it is March and I have not done any yard work this “Spring.”  Never mind that it was forty degrees and the north/northwest wind would knock you down!

Pretty much watched all of the UM versus Duke game late yesterday afternoon.  Was Ryan Kelly impressive in his return or what? UM has game too but Duke is a much better team with Kelly in the game.  I love college basketball during this time of the year!

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

The funerals for Herbert’s brother-in-law and Tina’s grandfather take place today at Holder-Wells and Serenity respectively.  Pray for these families as they walk through this valley.

Jodie Johhnson’s father, Floyd Ziglar, passed away on Thursday, 2/21.  There will be a memorial service tomorrow afternoon, 3/3, beginning at 3:00PM from the Coden Methodist Church.  Pray for the Ziglar family.

Sidney Walker was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Pray for his recovery.

Sanna asked that we pray for her niece to have a hormone fed malignancy which would be the best case scenario for a person with her type cancer.

I have not gotten an update on Katie Sessions or the baby but do ask that you pray for them.

Dale & Karla are in Orlando this weekend and then fly to Houston.  Alisha is in the Bayou.  Pray for these two ministries.

Dana, Gina, and I went to Birmingham yesterday afternoon to watch the Faith Academy girls play in the 5A state tournament finals.  They won on a last second shot.  Congratulations!

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family present.

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

Herbert Benefield’s brother-in-law, Joe Graham, passed away and his service will be held tomorrow at 2:00PM at Holder Wells Funeral Home in Moss Point, MS.  Visitation with the family will begin at noon.

The funeral service for Tena Sprinkle’s grandfather will also take place tomorrow at 2:00PM at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore, AL.  Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00PM.

Received two prayer requests via e-mail – Leslie William’s cousin, Katie, gave birth to Baylee yesterday and the baby weighed 13 ounces.  The doctors say she is better than they anticipated but obviously has a long road ahead of her.

Sanna Collier’s niece, Chastity, is 29 years old, married, and the mother of two girls.  She has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Visited with Sidney Walker yesterday.  He is still in a good bit of pain.  Not sure when he will be discharged from the hospital.

Visited with Miss Edith Kelley yesterday afternoon.  She was doing “good” and is determined to get up and go again.

Kevin Woods remains hospitalized and Jack Lastorka is recovering at home.  Pray for all of these folks that have been listed.

Watched Duke get beat by UVA last night!  Zach Huhn is a Duke fan but I am not.  I will temper my comments out of respect for Zach.  (He may get the last laugh once Ryan Kelly gets back on the court)

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all three services.  I hope to be joined in the services, Sunday School, and Discipleship Training by many members of the Friendship family.

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