Pastor's Blog

May 29, 1937-Jan. 5, 2017 Mrs. Maxine Tanner Rogers, a native of Theodore, AL, passed away peacefully surrounded by family. She fought a 6 month battle with acute myeloblastic leukemia. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph B. Rogers; parents Elton O. “Heck” Tanner, Sr. and Annie Mae Tanner; brother Elton O. Tanner, Jr.; sister Shirley Styron; special cousin Marvina Janes. She is survived by her son David (Vera) Bosarge; daughter Joy (Marion) Chandler; grandsons Davy (Ashley) Bosarge and Dale (Karla) Bosarge; great granddaughter Harper Bosarge; step-sons, Larry (Linda) Rogers and Phillip (Sandy) Rogers; brothers Joseph (Pansy) Tanner and Howard Tanner; special niece Janice Pelletier; many other relatives, friends and her special feline friend RUNTIE. She retired from the Mobile County Public School System after teaching for 28 years at Alba High School; she then taught several more years at Magnolia Springs Christian School and Jackson Creek Academy. She then began leading ministry conferences in local churches as well as Shocco Springs Baptist Camp. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Tillman’s Corner where she sang in the Amazing Greys Senior Choir, helped with Surrender Youth Choir, and other ministries throughout her church. She also traveled on several mission trips with the Senior Choir. She loved the Lord, her family and her church. Special thanks to Dr. Ang and Dr. Douglas and the staff of Mobile Diagnostic Center; Dr. George, Traci Jones, and other staff at Southern Cancer Center; and the 12th Floor Oncology Wing nurses and staff for their kind and compassionate care throughout her illness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Church Tillman’s Corner Building Fund. Funeral services will be held from Mobile Memorial Gardens on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 12 noon. Visitation will be Monday evening at the funeral home, from 4 to 6 pm. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 16 – 17;    Matthew 5:27 – 48

Miss Maxine Rogers, mother of David Bosarge, passed from this life early last night.  The doctor had told the family yesterday morning that Miss Maxine probably had around twelve hours of life on this earth and they were fairly close to be exactly correct.  Pray for the family as they make arrangements and walk through this time of sorrow.  (The family is “thinking” Monday night visitation and Tuesday service but that has not been finalized yet)

Ruby Gulley’s surgery took place yesterday afternoon.  I went by and visited/prayed with her yesterday morning and then Bro. Jerry covered the actual surgery.  As far as I know, everything went well.  Pray for Ruby.

Darlene McGaster was discharged from the hospital yesterday morning.  Can you say “happy camper?”

The funeral service for Jennifer Brown’s maternal grandmother takes place today at 2:00PM in Aberdeen, Mississippi.  Pray for the family.

Young Holin Saucer had heart surgery in Atlanta yesterday and did well.  Pray for her.

Visited with Carla Kyser yesterday.  We had a good visit once we got Elizabeth Malone out of the room – just saying!  Carla was probably “some” better yesterday but still needs much fervent prayer.

I was able to make some in home visits yesterday afternoon as well as visit the convalescent homes.  I was pleasantly surprised when Miss Carmen Reyer recognized me, called my name and engaged in a meaningful conversation as that has not been the case in several months.  God is good.

Keep praying for those battling cancer.  Always a prayer need!

My dad got into a fight with a table saw this past Wednesday afternoon and, according to the middle three fingers on his left hand, the saw won!  He received something like nineteen stitches in those three fingers.  I so appreciate my sister-in-law, Sue, being there to get him to the emergency room and then getting dad and mama back home late Wednesday night.  Sue is a sweetheart but I want her to know that then I will tell her personally.

This blog’s readership fluctuates between twelve and thirteen readers daily.  One or two of those live in the North so this is for them.  The weather folks are calling for a possible snow fall of up to three inches in parts of East/Central Alabama today!  Therefore, our governor has declared a state of emergency for today!  Many school systems have cancelled classes for today.  Folks are being encouraged to stock up on supplies and stay off the roads.  Look it up on al.com.  And Mark Mast thinks they are the only ones dealing with Winter weather!  (By the way, the real temperature in Rainy River, Canada was negative twenty nine degrees yesterday morning!).

Men’s breakfast in the morning, 1/7, from 8:00 – 9:00AM.  Fellowship hall.  All men invited to attend.

Nanette invited me over for hot chocolate this morning due to our cold weather (high of around forty four degrees today).  I declined as I told her it would not look right since we used to date.  So, she countered with an offer to go to a local restaurant which would be a public place.  I suggested Waffle House and she suggested the truck stop.  I stuck with my suggestion and she got really irritated at me.  Her final reply to me as she slammed the phone down was “you know the Waffle House has a no smoking policy!”  What does that even mean?

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 13-15;    Matthew 5:1-26

Ruby Gulley is scheduled to have surgery today.  She will then be in the hospital for about one week.  Pray that all goes well.

David Bosarge’s mother, Miss Maxine Rogers, is seemingly near the end of her earthly life.  Dale was sharing with me at church last night that she appeared to take a turn for the worse late yesterday and they did not know if she would live through the night.  As of this writing, (2:30AM) she is still with us as far as I know.  Pray for Miss Maxine and the family.

Darlene McCaster, daughter of Robert & Roseanne Baria, is in the hospital battling an infection.  She has been there since last Saturday and probably has at least another day or two in the hospital.

Jo Nell Barnes was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  She is a happy camper!

Spoke to Ray Baber via the phone yesterday and he was not feeling well at all.  This did not seem to be related to his surgery.  Pray for Ray!

Jennifer Brown’s maternal grandmother, Miss Peggy Johns, passed from this life on Tuesday.  The visitation with the family takes place tonight in Aberdeen, MS and the service will take place tomorrow afternoon, 1/6, also in Aberdeen.  Pray for the family.

Rachel Jackson’s brother, David, passed away unexpectedly yesterday.  Pray for the family.

Chuck Rockwell and Jeanette Strahan’s brother, Norman Rockwell, passed from this life.  The funeral service will take place on Saturday just North of Birmingham, AL.  Pray for the Rockwell family.

Carla Kyser continues to be at home battling against her malignancy.  She is a fighter!  Keep praying!

Lisa Thompson and her sister, Brenda Timberlake, should be traveling home from Houston, TX today.  Lisa has literally been too sick to travel.  Pray for Lisa and Brenda.

Tim Knighten just keeps on keeping on.  The treatments have knocked him back a step or two but he keeps going.  Pray for Tim.

Becky Sellers has a scan this week and the begins another round of chemotherapy on Monday, 1/9.

It was good to be back in a “normal” routine yesterday regarding our services.  Blessed day!

Men’s breakfast Saturday, 1/7, from 8:00 – 9:00AM in the fellowship hall.  All men invited!

Morris & Diane and Lisa & I got tickets through the university to Monday night’s game in Tampa.  The Bryants leave today without us – how rude!  (Must be nice to be retired!). Lord willing, Lisa and I will leave Sunday night after the evening service heading that way.  I read late yesterday afternoon where the “get in” price is now around one thousand dollars.  Please do not tell Lisa this as she will sell our tickets in a heartbeat!  I see “football game” and she sees “new outfits!”

If the weather folks are correct, we will see some cooler temperatures over the next few days – hooray!  They are calling for a low of twenty five degrees on Saturday night.  Is that great or what!  Tomorrow’s forecast calls for a high of forty seven with rain – basically a perfect day!  (Nanette has invited me over for hot chocolate!).

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

Just learned that Jennifer Brown’s grandmother passed away during the night last night.  I do not know her name and, obviously, the arrangements are pending.  Pray for the family.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 10 – 12; Matthew 4

Jo Nell Barnes remains in the hospital but may come home today.  They now say that she does not have the flu or pneumonia.

Jennifer Brown’s maternal grandmother took a fall yesterday morning.  She lives in the Starkville, MS area.  She is on life support.

Robert & Rose Anne Baria’s daughter, Darlene, is in the hospital with an infection.

Tim Knighten was possible “some” better last night after getting some steroids.  He continues to lose weight which is not what the doctors want.

Visited with Carla Kyser yesterday morning.  Really no change in her situation.

Lisa Thompson should return home from Houston today.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  The fare for the 7:30PM Bible study is spaghetti with the trimmings.

Men’s breakfast this Saturday, 1/7, from 8:00 – 9:00AM in the fellowship hall.  All men are invited to attend.

There was one salvation at the McKemie Place last night – praise the Lord!

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

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3

Jo Nell Barnes was admitted to the hospital last night.  They were doing some tests and wanted to keep her at least overnight for observation.

Lisa Thompson is in Houston but should be returning home tomorrow.  There is a medicine she can receive in Mobile which will require a ten days hospital stay.  Not sure when that process will begin.

Carla Kyser remains at home but just continues to need our prayers.

Becky Sellers will have a scan at some point this week and then will begin another round of chemo next Monday, 1/9.

Tim Knighten has been weakened by the weekly chemo and the daily radiation treatments.

Leslie Hacker’s great niece continues to need our prayers as it relates to her injuries from the accident that took place this past November.

Mary Cook has been diagnosed with Polymyositis.  This has been an ongoing problem for months.  At least the doctors now know what they are battling.

Join me in praying for all of these folks and their needs.

The church office is open today from 8:00AM – 12:00PM and then from 1:00PM until 5:00PM.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

Wow, have we gotten some rain over the past three or four days?  Yesterday afternoon was just nasty.  I enjoy the rain but not that much in such a short period of time.  However, God knows what He is doing!

We are now entering a “sad” time of the year when it comes to sports as the college football season is almost over.  There have been some good bowl games with yesterday’s Rose Bowl being fun to watch.

Heard from one person using the daily Bible reading plan being posted on this blog.  Good enough for me.

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

The Bible  verse for the Friendship family in 2017 is found in I Peter 4:10 – “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (NASB).  Yes, this is our theme verse for GRACE Ministries.  I encourage you to memorize but, more importantly, I encourage you to live it!

I had said that I was not going to list a daily Bible reading each day but have had a change of heart.  If only one other person takes advantage of this reading plan then it is worth it to me.  (It would be nice to know if anyone is using this OT/NT plan). So, here it goes:

Today’s Bible reading – Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2

Tuesday, January 3 – Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3
Wednesday, January 4 – Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4
Thursday, January 5 – Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26
Friday, January 6 – Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48
Saturday, January 7 – Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18
Sunday, January 8 – Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34

We were blessed with a good first Sunday of 2017.  The heavy rains did us no favors concerning our attendance although it was good considering the holiday and the weather.  Last night’s service saw Lane Lofton accept Jesus as his personal Savior.   Glory to God.

Our bowling fellowship was a success.  What a great time for families.  I have gotten several e-mails from folks thanking us for arranging the fellowship and saying what a great time they had.  Seeing the families enjoying each other was a blessing!

I ask you to keep praying for those folks battling cancer and all of the other needs for which we have been praying.  I will update those needs over the next few days.

Remember, the church office is closed today, 1/2.  Will open tomorrow morning, 1/3, at 8:00AM.

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

Happy New Year!

Good morning from a seemingly water logged Grand Bay!  If the old adage that “one drop of rain will keep forty Baptists away from church” is true then we will be in negative numbers attendance wise today!  I do realize the rain could be a major deterrent to some of our most senior adults but the rest of us should drive carefully and be in our rightful place this morning.  We would no doubt go to work, school, sporting events, et cetera in spite of the rain.

Sunday School today at 9:15AM.  Morning worship at 10:30AM.  Evening worship at 6:00PM.

I am asking our senior adults to fill the choir loft for our 10:30AM service.  Simply go to the choir loft once you are in the auditorium for the morning service.  This is for anyone sixty five years of age or older.

Church wide bowling fellowship tonight from 8:00 – 10:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS for anyone attending our 6:00PM worship service.  Cost is five dollars per bowler with a maximum of twenty dollars per immediate family.

My friend, Joe David Bailey, officially begins his tenure as the pastor of Danville Baptist Church today.  Congratulations to Pastor Joe David!

Nanette Brooks Fontenot and I wish each of you a very Happy New Year!  (She basically begged me to put that in the blog or else).

This blog will be ten years old in 2017!  Can you believe it?  Our goal this year is to reach twenty readers!  We can do it!  (My personal goal is to mention my former girlfriend & almost wife, Nanette Brooks, more often!).

Morris got us home shortly after midnight.  Once again, we had a great time of fellowship with Morris & Diane.  Do we have plans to attend the national championship game next Monday, 1/9?  We do, Lord willing.  Lisa and I will leave after the evening service next Sunday to begin our trek South and will join Morris & Diane there.  Can Alabama beat Clemson again?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  That is why they play the game!

I do want to provide props to my older brother, Eddie, for providing us rooms in Atlanta this past Friday night.  Great hotel and great location.  He is a giver and we are grateful!  (I wonder if they have hotels in Tampa that can be gotten with points?  Just saying!).

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

The plan for 2017 will be a reading from the Old Testament along with a reading from the New Testament each day.  Follow this plan and you will read the Bible through this year.

January 2017

January 1 Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1
January 2 Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2
January 3 Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3
January 4 Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4
January 5 Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26
January 6 Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48
January 7 Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18
January 8 Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34
January 9 Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7
January 10 Genesis 25-26; Matthew 8:1-17
January 11 Genesis 27-28; Matthew 8:18-34
January 12 Genesis 29-30; Matthew 9:1-17
January 13 Genesis 31-32; Matthew 9:18-38
January 14 Genesis 33-35; Matthew 10:1-20
January 15 Genesis 36-38; Matthew 10:21-42
January 16 Genesis 39-40; Matthew 11
January 17 Genesis 41-42; Matthew 12:1-23
January 18 Genesis 43-45; Matthew 12:24-50
January 19 Genesis 46-48; Matthew 13:1-30
January 20 Genesis 49-50; Matthew 13:31-58
January 21 Exodus 1-3; Matthew 14:1-21
January 22 Exodus 4-6; Matthew 14:22-36
January 23 Exodus 7-8; Matthew 15:1-20
January 24 Exodus 9-11; Matthew 15:21-39
January 25 Exodus 12-13; Matthew 16
January 26 Exodus 14-15; Matthew 17
January 27 Exodus 16-18; Matthew 18:1-20
January 28 Exodus 19-20; Matthew 18:21-35
January 29 Exodus 21-22; Matthew 19
January 30 Exodus 23-24; Matthew 20:1-16
January 31 Exodus 25-26; Matthew 20:17-34