Pastor's Blog

Our Monday night prayer time will resume on Monday, August 7, 2017.  Please note this and pass the word.  Thank you!

“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 – July 10 Job 41-42; Acts 16:22-40
Tuesday, July 11 – Psalms 1-3; Acts 17:1-15
Wednesday, July 12 – Psalms 4-6; Acts 17:16-34
Thursday, July 13 – Psalms 7-9; Acts 18
Friday, July 14 – Psalms 10-12; Acts 19:1-20
Saturday, July 15 – Psalms 13-15; Acts 19:21-41
Sunday, July 16 – Psalms 16-17; Acts 20:1-16

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Jonny Gaston did a nice job of preaching in the evening service.  Randall did his usual good job of leading our musical worship.  I appreciate Deanna Wetterer supplying on the piano in Jeanette’s absence.

We had a good attendance even though we had a boat load of regulars out of town.  I appreciate folks being faithful.

An ad hoc committee consisting of Jeanette Bates, Randall Broome, Rhett Butler, Tena Hovel, Brad Hutto, James Mareno and Raymond Wilkinson has been appointed by the pastor.  This committee will be bringing a motion to the church family regarding the purchase of a new sound system.

Sonny Bates, Brad Hutto and Carl Ray Moulds have been elected to serve as deacons for three years beginning August 1, 2017.

Also, the asphalt in the parking areas will be sealed soon.  It will also be striped again with wider parking areas.

Robert Baria is now on a ventilator and a feeding tube.  He has been placed back in ICU.  Stop now and pray for Robert.

Tommy Watson remains in the hospital.  Not sure about Ruby Gulley.  I will be heading to the hospitals soon.

Bobby & the Nationals finished the first half of the season with a comfortable lead over Leslie Hacker’s Braves.  Bobby is a super nice guy!  I am happy for him.

Bernard is painting the doors in the CAB.  Looking good!  Thanks Bernard.

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.  (Sorry this entry is late.  Two words.  Courtney Cavin!)

“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 – Job 34-35; Acts 15:1-21

Happy birthday to my great nephew, Grayson Glenn.  He is now a teenager!  Awesome guy!  (Cannot believe that this maternal grandmother is not there on this most important day in his life – wow!)

Had a good visit with Robert Baria yesterday morning.  Not really sure all that is taking place with him.  Just pray.

Finally was able to catch Tommy Watson in his room.  He is doing well and undergoing a lot of therapy each day.  Improvement is being made but it will be a slow process.

Ruby & Winston were both sleeping when I went into her room so I simply left a card.  She “may” be discharged today.

Regular schedule this Sunday, 7/9.  Hope the members of the Friendship family will be found faithful in all areas.

Soy, Deidra, the girls and Gina are doing well in Guatemala.  Deidra begins language school Monday.  Soy and Gina are working with Pastor Keith Martin’s team.

Do you hear it?  That is the sound of our grass growing!  Today will be a full day of yard work.  Lisa is demanding this place be in tip top shape before Sunday!  However, she is also demanding that groceries be bought first thing this morning!  Slave driver!

I did want to mention that Tom Compagner has a really nice garden growing.  Their schedule is so behind us but their temperatures are much more conducive to working in the garden this time of the year.  Tom may make a farmer after all!

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 – Job 32-33; Acts 14

Tommy Watson & Ruby Gulley remain in the hospital.  The thought process is that Ruby “may” be discharged tomorrow.

Robert Baria also remains hospitalized.  He ate some soft food yesterday for the first time since his surgery.

I plan on seeing these folks today, Lord willing.

Arrived home late last night.  I appreciate Zach Huhn coming to the airport to pick me up and bring me home.   He is an effective Uber driver.  (His mom does not know that he is doing that on the side so please do not tell her)

Mark’s mother was very gracious to me in expressing her appreciation to me for attending the celebration of life service for her husband of sixty plus years.  Of course, Mark & Tina were gracious as well.  Very Jesus centered service.

Shari Compagner was her usual gracious hostess.  Tom?  Just Tom.  Example – the church family provided “funeral buns” (small sandwiches) after the committal service.  I enjoyed one and was thinking Tom would take me by for supper on the way to the airport.  Not so fast my friend.  He intentionally “visited” with folks until we had just enough time to stop by their house and grab my backpack before heading to the airport.  Tom is Dutch!

Did Queen Genzink bring me any monster cookies?  Are you serious?  Only Carol “Monster” Miles takes care of me in that regard!

Let me get off this soapbox before I fall!  LOL!

I pray that you will have a great Thursday 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 – Job 30-31; Acts 13:26-52

Good morning from Hotel Compagner in Hamilton, Michigan.  Tom was so gracious to come pick me up from the Grand Rapids airport just before midnight last night and then give me a place to sleep.  Tom & Shari are such good friends and are wonderful people.

Regular schedule this morning and evening with one exception – no adult choir practice in July.  Our students will be in the auditorium tonight at 6:30PM so our adults will meet in the choir room.  The 7:30PM Bible study will take place at our house and the fare will be pizza.

I do not have any updates on those folks in the hospital.  My yesterday was spent in the yard trimming hedges, eating weeds and mowing grass.  Man, it was hot!

Our Finance Committee will meet this Sunday at 4:00PM in the church office.  Deacons will meet at 5:00PM in their regular place.  Missions Committee will meet after the service in the 20-29 SS room.  Folks, please take note!

Lisa and I literally passed in the ATL last night.  We saw each other for like thirty seconds as I barely made my connection.  She wanted to see me as she was demanding picture proof of the yard work before allowing me to travel to Michigan.  Folks, she is tough!  I am glad that she is home.

Deidra is supposed to be blogging each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  She is not real consistent!  I like hammering her about it.  Shininglightabroad.com.  Click on blog.

Today marks the forty ninth birthday of Lisa’s only brother, Michael.  That is unreal to me.  He has now been in Heaven for almost thirty one years. What would life had been like with him here?  We will never know.  However, we cannot bring him back but we can go to where he is because of Jesus.  Because Jesus lives we can face tomorrow!

Pray for Mark’s family as they remember Mr. Mast today in a celebration of his life service.  Three of Mark & Tina’s five children cannot attend the service because they are involved in ministry.  Pray for those three as I know their hearts will be heavy.

Lord willing, Delta will bring me back to Mobile late tonight.  This “wetumpkaitis” is still hanging on!  My lawyer will be in touch with Pastor Doug today!

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 – Job 28-29; Acts 13:1-25

Happy Fourth of July!  Happy birthday America!

Jonathan Jordan did well through his surgery.  The doctor seemed pleased.  I am not sure if Jonathan came home yesterday afternoon or if he had to spend the night.

Lee Sessions was doing much better.  He was in hopes that he was going to be discharged yesterday afternoon.  Not sure if that happened.

Tommy Watson was apparently in physical therapy whenever I attempted to visit him.  Left a card.

Ruby Gulley remains in ICU.  She was coherent and is ready to go home!

Danny Lewis had a heart on Saturday afternoon and went home Monday morning before I could visit him in the hospital!  What is up with that?  I am not surprised!

Robert Baria remains in ICU.  The hospital was having power failure problems and it was hot!  Robert was not a happy camper!  He is ready to go home.  I think they have corrected his problem.  He does not have double pneumonia.

I appreciate Carl Ray Moulds coming to the hospital for Jonathan’s surgery.  He was also going to visit Danny but I am not sure if he got there in time.

Lisa and Dana are scheduled to arrive home late tonight.  I will literally pass them in the ATL as I will be on my way to Michigan.  I figured that today would be day of rest and relaxation for me – not so fast my friend!  Lisa sent me a message last night detailing exactly how she wants the yard to look upon her return – or else!  So, I will be on the back of a weed eater, pushing a mower and riding a mower too.  I tried to explain to her that it is a national holiday but she very quickly told me a thing or two.  Slave driver!

Pray for Mark Mast and family.  They had the visitation last night and will have the celebration of life service tomorrow afternoon.

I have a very special prayer request that must remain anonymous.  I was made aware of it last night.  Serious stuff.  God knows.  I simply ask you to pray fervently.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  The adults will meet in the choir room at 6:30PM as the students need the auditorium.  Bro. Jerry will be teaching at 10:00AM & 6:30PM in my absence.

I have not been able to shake this “wetumpkaitis!”  I am trying.  Am scheduled to see my doctor on Thursday for a blood pressure check up so maybe he can help me.  Alexander is gathering information as I type this entry!  You will be seeing more billboards going up soon once we win this case!  Pastor Doug probably needs to try and settle out of court!

I even tried to explain to Lisa about this “disease” and how I do not need to be outside sweating in this humidity.  She would hear none of it!  Asked if it would keep me from attending an Alabama football game?  I said “no” and she said, “I rest my case!”

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday 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 – Job 25-27; Acts 12

This entry is a bit late and for that I apologize.  I am sitting in the hospital surgical waiting room having just prayed with Jonathan Jordan prior to his surgery.  He “may” be discharged today if all goes well.

I will leave this hospital and go into Mobile to visit Tommy Watson and Ruby Gulley.  After that, I will head to Mississippi to visit Danny Lewis and Robert Baria.

Lord willing, I will fly out tomorrow evening in order to attend the celebration of life service for Mark Mast’s father on Wednesday afternoon.  I am scheduled to be back in Mobile late Wednesday night.

We were blessed with good services yesterday.  The Spirit moved and for that I am most grateful.  Our students did a nice job of sharing last night.  Hannah Taylor did a wonderful job of playing the offertory.  What a joy to see seven professions of faith in that service.  It was also a joy to see public rededications.  God is good!

Our daughter, Gina, flew out yesterday afternoon headed to Guatemala.  She arrived safe and sound last night.  Lisa and Dana are scheduled to return home tomorrow night, Lord willing.

I have been stricken with “wetumpkaitis” and it is not good.  I am considering bringing a lawsuit against Pastor Doug, Pastor BJ and their church family.  Alexander will be my lawyer!

Ushering – it is so easy even the Pastor can do it!  Just saying!

The church office will be closed tomorrow for the fourth.

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

July 1 Job 20-21; Acts 10:24-48
July 2 Job 22-24; Acts 11
July 3 Job 25-27; Acts 12
July 4 Job 28-29; Acts 13:1-25
July 5 Job 30-31; Acts 13:26-52
July 6 Job 32-33; Acts 14
July 7 Job 34-35; Acts 15:1-21
July 8 Job 36-37; Acts 15:22-41
July 9 Job 38-40; Acts 16:1-21
July 10 Job 41-42; Acts 16:22-40
July 11 Psalms 1-3; Acts 17:1-15
July 12 Psalms 4-6; Acts 17:16-34
July 13 Psalms 7-9; Acts 18
July 14 Psalms 10-12; Acts 19:1-20
July 15 Psalms 13-15; Acts 19:21-41
July 16 Psalms 16-17; Acts 20:1-16
July 17 Psalms 18-19; Acts 20:17-38
July 18 Psalms 20-22; Acts 21:1-17
July 19 Psalms 23-25; Acts 21:18-40
July 20 Psalms 26-28; Acts 22
July 21 Psalms 29-30; Acts 23:1-15
July 22 Psalms 31-32; Acts 23:16-35
July 23 Psalms 33-34; Acts 24
July 24 Psalms 35-36; Acts 25
July 25 Psalms 37-39; Acts 26
July 26 Psalms 40-42; Acts 27:1-26
July 27 Psalms 43-45; Acts 27:27-44
July 28 Psalms 46-48; Acts 28
July 29 Psalms 49-50; Romans 1
July 30 Psalms 51-53; Romans 2
July 31 Psalms 54-56; Romans 3

Just got home around 7:30PM and received word from Cecil Guidry that Danny Lewis suffered a heart attack earlier today.  They did surgery and placed a stent in the back of his heart.  He is in ICU.  Of course, Pam is in Louisiana with her mother.  Pray for Danny & Pam.

Also, Robert Barca has been taken back to the hospital as he was running a temperature of 105 degrees.  Folks, as you know, that is way high for anyone but especially an adult.  Pray for Robert & Rose Anne.

I know Cecil & Myrtle are visiting with Danny tonight and Bro. Jerry has gone to visit with Robert.  I appreciate these folks ministering.

Mark’s dad passed from this life around 3:00AM today.  Pray for Mark’s mom and the rest of the family as they walk through this valley.  Thank you.