Pastor's Blog

It “appears” that Hurricane Nate will have made his visit and be gone from the Gulf Coast well before morning.  Therefore, we will have one worship service tomorrow, 10/8, at 3:00PM.

What if I cannot get to the church because of downed power lines, downed trees, flooded roads, et cetera?  No one should attempt to attend this church service if it puts them in harm’s way because of the aforementioned things or anything else.  No exceptions.

What if the church buildings do not have electricity?  We will still have the service.

So, if you can attend the service, great.  If not, we will understand.

This may very well be my last blog for a day, two or more depending on the electricity and the internet service.

Pray for all of us in the path of Hurricane Nate.  Take caution.  Take care.

Due to the uncertainty of the storm that is projected to become Hurricane Nate, the decision has been made to cancel our bus service for this Sunday, 10/8/17.  Our buses will NOT be running their routes this Sunday morning.  I appreciate Bro. Benny McGath’s input into this matter.

Please note that no decision has been made regarding our worship services.  Watching and waiting.  Stay tuned!

“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 –  Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2

The sixty four thousand dollar question is – are we having services this Sunday, 10/8?  Let me just say that we are monitoring the situation very closely and will make that call tomorrow.  I am in touch with our staff and deacons and am receiving their input.  IF (key word) the storm goes as far to the West as they are predicting right now then we will be having services of some sort.  Again, a bit too early to make that call so stay tuned.  (Please note that I would never want anyone to put themselves in a dangerous situation by traveling to our services.  Each individual will need to make the best call for them personally regardless of our final decision.  Your situation may be unique)

Attempted to visit with Robert Baria again yesterday afternoon but he had been taken for a scan.  Keep praying for Robert, Roseanne and family.

Had a really nice visit with Tommy Watson yesterday.  He has made some nice progress through his various therapies.  Keep praying that he will continue to improve with the use of his left side.

Lisa had both of her casts replaced yesterday.  She did not see the doctor but the last time the casts were put on it was done incorrectly.  She has a couple of good sized blisters.  The person who put the casts on yesterday was much more experienced and did a really good job.  The earliest possible date for the right cast to be replaced by a brace is Monday, 10/16.  (BTW, Titus had his cast removed yesterday).

One of our senior adult ladies cooked supper for us last night and it was wonderful!  Roast with all of the trimmings.  We are really good food wise as we have three complete meals frozen.  These have been prepared by folks who did so with the intent of us using them later.

I need to mention that one of our younger ladies cooked for us on Tuesday night.  Taco soup.  Surprisingly, she did a very nice job.  There is an art to purchasing food in a restaurant and then putting it in containers to make it look as though you cooked it.  Just saying!

Lisa and Daphne are traveling to the Atlanta area today in order to lead a women’s conference tonight and tomorrow morning.  Pray for their safety in traveling and for the conference to be God honoring.

We have a very special guest who will be coming to share with us on our Hope Sunday which is October 15.  I will share that person’s name this Sunday in our services.  I am very grateful this has worked out and it is going to be good.  I have struggled with this year’s Hope Sunday.  Anyone wishing to help with the decoration and other aspects of our Hope Sunday are asked to meet with me in the auditorium this Monday night, 10/9, at 7:00PM.

Bobby and the boys take the field at 6:30PM tonight.  I am in hopes the Nationals can win it all this year!  Four MLB playoff games today/tonight.  Go Bobby!

I really need Direct TV and Alabama Power to keep everything up and going until at least 10:00PM tomorrow night!  LOL!

I am reading that the NFL is struggling a bit.  The ten folks reading this blog cannot make much of an impact but I would ask you to consider not watching any NFL game on television for the next month.  Watch it on some other device as it my understanding the NFL does not benefit from that but the television ratings do matter.  Obviously, you can/will do what you feel is right for you.  I have personally made the choice to boycott the NFL.  It would be great if we ten stand together!

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

The men who coordinate and lead our monthly men’s breakfasts have made the call to cancel the breakfast that was scheduled for this Saturday, October 7.  The potential hurricane’s path is so uncertain and the men did not want to wait until the last minute to make this call.  So, please take note of this cancellation and pass the word.

“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 – Isaiah 23-25; Philippians 1

Continue to pray for Debbie Kendrick and family as they walk through this valley.

Visited with Robert Baria yesterday afternoon but he was sleeping very soundly.  Prayed and left a card.

Have to take Lisa to the doctor’s office this morning for a cast adjustment and/or replacement.

Watching what will most likely become Hurricane Nate and the potential impact on our area.  Will it affect our Sunday services?  Folks, we will just monitor the situation and make a call at some point on Saturday.  I will post it on the blog once a decision is made.

Men’s breakfast on Saturday morning at 8:00AM.  All men invited.

Bus workers’ meeting on Saturday morning at 8:30AM.  Bro. Benny & I will also be making the call on our bus service for Sunday morning.

Our Royal Ambassadors and Girls In Action had a farewell fellowship for Wes, Jennifer, Louis & Emma Garrison last night.  We are going to miss this family but I am excited that they will be very close to both sets of grandparents by moving to Arab.  Wes & Jennifer have been strong supporters of the church and will be greatly missed.

We are moving our young adult Bible study to Thursday nights beginning October 19.  These folks will meeting the CAB beginning at 6:45PM for a time of worship in song, worship in the Word and fellowship.

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

I decided to not include this prayer request in my regular daily entry as it is so different.  Long story short – Debbie Kendrick sent me an e-mail yesterday saying her younger brother who lives in North Carolina was missing and that this was very unusual for him.  She asked me to pray.

Around 5:30PM yesterday afternoon, Bill Kendrick sent me a message saying that Debbie’s brother had been found in his house and that he had passed from this life.  Folks, that is the extent of all I know about this situation right now.

I simply ask you to pray for Debbie and her 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 – Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6

Six salvation decisions at McKemie Place last night – to God be the glory.

Robert Baria was moved back to the hospital yesterday as his temperature was elevated and he was having some issues with bleeding.  I will visit him this afternoon.  Keep praying.

Regular schedule this morning and evening.  Still trying to decide about the 7:30PM fare – it may be in a local eatery.  If so, that will be shared via text by my girls.

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 – Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-33

Happy 21st birthday to our twin daughters, Dana & Gina.  As I have said many times over, I do not know what I was doing on October 21, 1996, but I certainly did not know I was becoming a father.  If I could do it all over again, I would have gone to the hospital and just looked in the nursery window at the set of twins which were born around 9:00AM.  Anyway, happy birthday Dana & Gina!

Robert Baria was moved to a rehabilitation type place yesterday.  I pray this is a step toward complete healing and recovery.

Illusionist Bryan Drake, Pastor Keith Martin, Evangelist Michael Mason and Evangelist Johnny Tucker all arrived in El Salvador yesterday to lead the annual GRACE Ministries pastors’ conference.  They were joined by Pastor Ben Labriel, Deidra “I married an Asian” Taylor, and Dr. Tico Vargas who drove down from Guatemala.  Pastor Keith and Bryan preached last night.  All of these folks will lead teaching sessions today.  Evangelist Michael Mason and Bro. Johnny Tucker will preach today/tonight.  Pray for this conference, please.

“Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.  Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:31-32 GNT)

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