Pastor's Blog

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Katie Tillman’s surgical procedure went well yesterday. The doctor told her to stay off work today and then go about her normal life.  Katie is a sweetheart.  She sent me a message last night asking me to express her thanks to each member of the Friendship family who prayed for her.  Keep praying for Grant & Katie.

Amy Huhn sent me a message late yesterday afternoon saying that her dad did well through his procedure too.  I think he spent the night in the hospital and should come home today.

Larry & Judy are in Jacksonville.  Lord willing, I will be leaving today heading that way so I can be with Judy during Larry’s procedure tomorrow.  There are several other members of the Friendship family who will also travel to Jacksonville.  I am going solo because my schedule could change at any moment due to the birth of our eighth grandchild.  Pray for Larry!

Heard from Mark yesterday and Courtney is about the same.  I plan to ride over this morning and visit with them before heading toward Jacksonville.   Keep praying for Courtney.

Remember, no morning service tomorrow due to the colder temperatures.  Please pass the word!  However, regular schedule tomorrow night beginning at 6:30PM.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching in that service as I will be in Florida, Lord willing.

We had basketball games last night and will do the same tonight, Thursday night and then again on Saturday.  Pray for this ministry.

Am I blessed or what?  I got to spend about four hours with “Little Stella” yesterday.  On top of that I got to be interrogated by the one who is over the voting in Mobile County as to why I use my Global Entry card as my form of identification when voting?

Our little NFL boycott group is up to four as Bill Kendrick & Tina Wilkinson posted a comment on yesterday’s entry.  Jeff Holifield had posted one a few days ago.  Do I expect a call from the commissioner?  Nope!

Soy, Deidra and the girls are in the Danville area.  The girls would love to see it snow.  I sure hope that happens for them.

The next two nights are supposed to be cold ones!  Stay warm!  (I will be gone so Lisa will turn the heat on!).

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

It was a good thing to see Edd Gillespie in our first service yesterday morning as we joined Sandy & him in celebrating their good news regarding his malignancy.  Praise the Lord.

Katie Tillman will have a surgical procedure today as a result of her miscarriage.  Pray for Grant & Katie.

Amy Huhn’s father, Bobby Morrison, will have a heart ablation today.  They are doing this ablation on a side of his heart that they did not want to do previously but now seemingly have no other option.  Pray all goes well.

Larry & Judy will travel to Jacksonville today, he will have some pre op stuff done tomorrow and then surgery on Wednesday. Pray for Larry.

We have a considerable number of folks within the Friendship family battling the flu, et cetera.  Pray for them too.

Blessed with three good services yesterday.  Our attendance was really good in all three services.  The prayer time last night was significant.  We thank God for His continued blessings.

I am writing this entry a little after 3:00AM and the outside temperature is twenty nine degrees.  Today’s high is projected to be fifty eight, tonight’s low thirty six (beach weather) and then tomorrow’s high fifty three.  It is then that we get another blast of cold air as Tuesday night’s low is expected to be twenty two, Wednesday’s high forty and Wednesday night’s low twenty one.

So, once again we will not have our Wednesday morning service this week.  We will have all of our regularly scheduled Wednesday evening activities, classes, service, et cetera.  Bro. Jerry will be preaching in the 6:30PM service.  Please pass the word.

We will now have cancelled two of our Wednesday morning services in a three weeks period of time.  Just learned that this has not been approved by the Alabama Baptist State Convention which means we may have to make up these missed services.  That would mean going from 10:00AM until noon for two future Wednesdays.  I appealed this ruling but was denied.  So, I have scheduled these make up Wednesdays for January 5 & 12, 2028.  Please mark those dates on your calendar!

Are you serious?  It seems to me that the liberal media and the NFL take the American public for a bunch of dummies!  NBC has announced they will show any players participating in that game who choose to kneel during the national anthem as they have to since it is a live event.  Are you serious?  Every single second of the Super Bowl is choreographed.  The network is making a political statement.  News flash to the liberal media – these protesting players are not civil rights activist!

The NFL attendance and viewership has suffered this year.  The NFL and the liberal media do not get it.  Recently Al Michaels (who will be doing the national broadcast of the game) said,  “There are a lot of empty seats, especially in the beginning of the second half. Most of the seats in most of the stadiums have been sold, but you go to Atlanta, where they just opened up a new stadium. They have behind the lower bowl a 100 yard almost mall. You’ve got stores, you’ve got bars, you’ve got restaurants, you’ve got games for the kids.”  That is definitely it Al, football loving men are going shopping instead of watching the games!

In my opinion, more of the American public needs to stand up and boycott the NFL by not watching any games.  And yet there will be churches that will dismiss their evening service or have Super Bowl watch parties.  Are you serious?

Boy, he is on a soapbox this morning, is he not?  I am.  Blood pressure just spiked!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Let’s begin today with good news!  Edd Gillespie sent Lisa a text late yesterday afternoon sharing that his malignancy is in remission!  No surgery (which he already knew) and no treatments of any kind.  He goes back to the M.D. Anderson Clinic in six months for a follow up visit.  Folks, that is definitely good news.

Now for some somber news.  Bill Abendroth passed from this life around 12:30PM yesterday.  His wife, Carolyn, his daughter and her husband and several others were with him when he passed.  Pray for Carolyn and the family during this difficult time.

Grant & Katie Tillman were expecting their second child as Katie was eleven weeks pregnant.  Not sure how many folks knew this at this point.  They found out yesterday that Katie has miscarried.  They ask for prayers.  Katie will have a surgical procedure on Monday.

Mark Hubbard says that Courtney is about the same.  Keep praying.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.

Weather forecast calls for three consecutive nights of below freezing temperatures including last night – 27, 25 & 28.  Then on Monday night it warms to a balmy 35.  Tuesday night will be the tough one with a forecasted low of 17 and a high on Wednesday of 37.  Then we go 21 on Wednesday night followed by 31 on Thursday night.

So, I have made the decision to once again cancel our Wednesday morning, 1/17, service.  Just too cold for our senior adults to get out.  Too much flu and other sickness going around.  This only applies to our Wednesday morning service.  We will have a normal schedule on Wednesday evening.  Can you believe that we have now cancelled two services due to cold weather?  Am I getting soft or what!  Please pass the word about this cancellation.

I have been attending some of the Faith Academy varsity girls’ basketball games because Anna Henley plays on the team.  I normally do not stay for the boys’ game as Titus is my sidekick and he has school the next day.  Last night we watched the girls and the boys.  Anna does well.  Logan Foutz does very well for the boys.  Going to try and catch a Bryant game, if possible, before the regular season ends.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

This entry is late.  Sorry about that!  Why late?  Hey, at least I am not like Deidra who basically never makes an entry!  Just saying!

Communicated with Mark Hubbard this morning.  No significant change in Courtney’s situation.  He had told me yesterday that her blood pressure numbers were up from the previous day.  Just keep praying.

Talked to Larry Whitehurst yesterday afternoon.  He is basically set to head to Jacksonville next week for his surgery on Wednesday morning.  Pray for Larry.

Spoke to Edd Gillespie this morning.  He has two meetings today where the doctors will basically share with him a plan of action. Edd is in very good spirits.  Pray for Edd.

Made a hospital visit yesterday and that person needs our prayer support.  Not at liberty to share any more details.

Basketball in the morning beginning at 8:00PM.

Bus workers’ meeting at 8:30AM tomorrow morning.

Regular schedule on Sunday including Discipleship Training.

Lisa offered to take me out to supper last night.  How thoughtful!  It was a trick as she then took me to Walmart and made me buy groceries.  She sat on the bench near the entrance doors while I shopped.  That was not all bad though as she got two burgers from the folks coming in and out as they thought she was panhandling.  She was pretty aggravated that one got her fries!

Ok, back to Mark & Courtney.  A full disclaimer – I am not a cook!  Lisa was cooking a meal for the Hubbard family on Wednesday.  She has been shorthanded in her office this week so we put me in charge of watching the roast.  I worked from my computer, read and studied.  All is well except I did not watch the roast.  Let’s just say that I cooked “blackened roast” for the Hubbard family.  As black as a piece of coal.  Burned to a crisp!  I suspect I will not be cooking any more after that little incident.

How about our upcoming weather? Beginning tonight the lows are forecast to be 28, 24, 28, 35, 19 & 24!  How awesome is that!  Makes me want to go cut some firewood!

Do you not just hate it when you call someone and they say, “let me call you right back” and then they never do.  Basically shows how important your relationship is to that person.  Just saying!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Lisa and I visited with Mark & Courtney Hubbard late yesterday afternoon.  Courtney continues to decline physically.  Mark seems to be holding up well.  Keep praying.

Linda Green shared in yesterday morning’s service that Victoria Collier is back in CCU in a Birmingham hospital.  Pray for Victoria and her family.

Edd Gillespie remains in Houston.  He has today off but will have more tests and/or consultations tomorrow.

Our morning service was well attended yesterday.  We had a good attendance in our evening service.  I am always thankful for folks who are faithful to attend.

We are supposed to have rain today and tonight and then the cooler temperatures move in.  We should be cool all the way through next Wednesday night, 1/30.

The first team of 2018 to use the L.G. Camp, Jr Mission House in Guatemala will be returning home today and will be replaced by the second team of the year.  We have eleven consecutive teams before having an “off” week the week before Easter.  Praise God for what He is doing through that ministry.

Soy, Deidra and the girls have been gone since last Saturday.  They spoke in two churches this past Sunday and will do likewise in two other churches this Sunday.  Sure has been quiet around this house with just Lisa and me.  We miss Deidra and the girls.  Pray for them in their travels.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Ginger Welch passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  Pray for Dan, the girls and the family as they walk through this difficult time.

Edd Gillespie continues to have tests, meetings, et cetera done the rest of this week.  Keep praying for Edd & Sandra.

Larry Whitehurst is working on getting everything needed done here before heading to the Mayo Clinic for his surgery next week. Pray that all goes as planned.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  I am praying the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

Jeff Holifield commented on yesterday’s entry and he too has boycotted the NFL this year.  Jeff played high school football and is an avid football fan so this is somewhat of a sacrifice on his part.  Thank you to Jeff and all others who are standing!

I was pretty pumped when I looked at the weather forecast this morning.  Beginning Friday night the forecasted lows for Grand Bay are 28, 24, 28, 32, & 28 through Tuesday night.  Is that great news or what!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Ginger Welch is Julie McGath’s sister.  She suffered a heart attack this past Saturday night and has been unresponsive ever since that time.  She is in CCU and on a ventilator.  The doctors plan to move her to another floor tomorrow and then remove the ventilator.  Obviously, it is a bleak situation.  Pray for Ginger, her husband, Dan, and their family.

Daphne & I visited with Mark & Courtney yesterday.  Courtney has really declined physically over the past couple of days.  However, she is on minimal pain medications and seems to be resting well.  Courtney, Mark and the family certainly need our continued prayer support.

Larry Whitehurst called me early last night to tell me that there had been some going back and forth concerning his surgery date.  Amazingly, his surgery is now scheduled for next Wednesday, 1/17, in Jacksonville, Floria.  That is much earlier than the original plan.  Larry is good with it but he has a lot of stuff medical wise to get done in Mobile before he goes back to Jacksonville.  Pray for Larry.

I spoke to Edd Gillespie via the phone late last night.  He has meetings, consultations, tests, et cetera at M.D. Anderson over the next four days.  Pray for wisdom on behalf of the doctors.

I watched the game last night and basically gave up on Alabama in the second quarter.  Just felt like Georgia had it going and it was not meant to be for Alabama.  Lisa basically chewed me out (cannot repeat what she said)!  However, she did not change my opinion.  I was fairly confident that the kicker was going to miss the field goal at the end of regulation too.  (Coach Saban totally missed by not offering Daniel Carlson a scholarship.  Why can Alabama not get a reliable place kicker?).   Needless to say that I was wrong and I am very happy to have been wrong.   Loved Tua’s post game remarks as he kept referring to Jesus – sweet!  I only personally know four Georgia fans and they are all classy folks.

I am now sad as the college football season has ended.  Hurry up September!

I am also happy to report that I have not watched any of the NFL games this season.  Not going to either.  As a matter of fact, Lisa I were in a restaurant the other day that had a television showing a Saints game.  I asked her to sit facing the television so I would not be tempted to watch the game.  I value the American flag over football and it is not even close.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

We were blessed and saw our 2018 get off to a good start as far as Sundays are concerned.  We were blessed to have two additions by transfer of letter in our early service.  The attendance was good and we were blessed.

Speaking of attendance, the Friendship family did very well in attending the service at the Grand Bay Church of God last night.  Thank you!  The service was good.  I enjoyed the worship through singing and the message by Pastor Alton.  To God be the glory!

Edd & Sandra will be in Houston tomorrow at the M.D. Anderson Clinic in order for Edd to have a consultation with the medical professionals there.  Pray the doctors and Edd will have wisdom.

Keep praying for Courtney Hubbard.  I sent a message to Mark a little earlier and should get an update today.

There are a couple of other prayer needs but I need to get permission to share them before doing so.  Just pray.

Rainy Monday.  I had planned to drive over to Fairhope but may just wait until tomorrow when it is supposed to be drier.

An all SEC football national championship tonight.  People say they want to see a good game.  Folks, when Alabama is playing then I define a “good” game as Alabama winning – LOL!  Wait pastor, are you not going to the game?  No.  I had tickets and then in a moment of weakness gave them to Deidra since she is in the greater ATL area.  What was I thinking?  Now I find out that she invited Soy to go with her – are you serious!  I may call the ticket office and tell them my tickets were stolen!  This may qualify as the greatest sacrifice a father has ever made for his daughter!

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Late entry.  Two words – Amy Huhn!

Simply wanted to ask the members of the Friendship adult choir to be at the Grand Bay Church of God tomorrow afternoon, 1/7, at 5:00PM for rehearsal with the COG choir.

Regular schedule in the morning.

Deacons meet at 4:00PM.  All ordained men and security committee meets at 5:00PM.

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

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

I did not contact Mark Hubbard yesterday but do ask that you keep praying for Courtney and family.  I will make contact today.

I also did not contact Larry Whitehurst but I “assume” he and Judy are at home now.  Pray for Larry as he looks toward surgery in February.

Edd Gillespie has an appointment at the M.D. Anderson Clinic next week.  Pray for wisdom on behalf of the medical professionals there.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning.  Deacons meeting at 4:00PM.  Security Committee and all ordained men meeting at 5:00PM.  Joint worship service at the Grand Bay Church of God at 6:00PM.

Basketball leagues resume tomorrow beginning at 8:00AM.

Well they say this cold snap is about to end.  Tonight is our last night for the foreseeable future that will see us go below freezing.  Today’s high is fifty, tomorrow’s is fifty four, Sunday’s is sixty and then it tops out at sixty eight on Thursday.  Basically the night time lows will be in the fifties.  Guess it is time to break out the beach chairs!

We have had some “cold” temperatures for us but at least we have not had to deal with Grayson!  Wow, what a storm!

The good news is that the national championship game will be played on Monday night.  The bad news is that the college football season will then be over.  Seems like last Saturday that TJ Vice and I were standing on the steps of the Mercedes Benz Stadium waiting on the doors to open for the first game of this season.

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