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)

The visitation with the Darron Haynes family takes place this afternoon from 5:00 – 7:00PM in our church auditorium.  A memorial service will begin at 7:00PM.  Please continue to pray for Angela, Whitney and the entire family.

Gloria Whitmore’s surgery was a success!  So much so that five hours after her surgery was completed she was up walking some – pretty amazing!  Keep praying for Miss Gloria as she recovers.

Dolly Kyser fell last Saturday and broke her wrist/arm.  She is having surgery this morning.  Pray all goes well.  Pray for her daughter, Karla, as she now has a ton on her plate.

JoNell, Peggy, Kara and the children will be traveling to Texas today for Saturday’s celebration of life service for JoNell’s sister.  Pray for traveling mercies and for the service.

Keep praying for Steve Morris and his recovery from surgery.  Also pray for my friend, Claude, as he too is recovering.

Our mission team is traveling today from Chicago, Huntsville, and Mobile.  Pray that all goes well as they travel.

Soy & Deidra took forty five of the feeding center students to Burger King for lunch yesterday.  It was a reward for having perfect attendance over the past month.  Those children were very well behaved and totally enjoyed themselves.  A second group will get the same reward today.  Good stuff!

Zach Huhn leaves Guatemala this morning having arrived here on May 31 to serve as a Summer intern.  He has done a really nice job.  He will leave within the week heading to Kansas for seminary.  I am very proud of Zach!  (His mama is a bit crazy but I am proud of him!).

Remember, Evangelist Johnny Tucker will be in our pulpit all three times this Sunday, 7/29.  Praying for the members of the Friendship family to be faithful.

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)

Gloria Whitmore has surgery today.  Pray for Gloria, the surgical team and for Jerry.  Gloria told me last week that this doctor prays with his patients before doing surgery – nice!

Peggy Knighten sent me a message as I was traveling yesterday to tell me that her Aunt Bib passed from this life yesterday morning.  This JoNell’s last sibling and she would have been ninety two years old in October.  Pray for JoNell, Peggy and the others who will travel to Texas for the service.  Pray for the family.

I spoke to Phil Sims late yesterday afternoon checking on Angela & Whitney.  Tentative plans call for a memorial service perhaps as early as tomorrow (Thursday).  I suspect Phil will have a more definite word in our service this morning.  Keep praying for the Haynes family.

Keep praying for Tammy Womack, Pastor John and their family.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight for the Friendship family.

I arrived on GRACE Mountain around 10:30PM last night (11:30PM Alabama time).  Thanks to Soy & Zach for driving into the city to bring me out to the mountain.  I have seen Deidra and Gina but Deidra and the girls were already asleep so I will see them this morning.

Speaking of Zach – his internship ends today as he leaves in the morning heading home.  He will be home for a few days before heading to Midwestern Seminary.  I thank Zach for his service here this Summer.  Pray for him as he enters this next phase of his life.

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

P.S. – Bobby & the boys and the Dodgers both lost last night so let’s not talk about it!

“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 way late.  Thank you Captain Obvious!  Rather than try to get into the “why” I will just apologize and move on.

Sad news came early this morning when I learned that Phil Sims’ son-in-law, Darron, passed from this life early this morning.  I am fairly certain that Phil told me the other day that Darron was fifty four years old.  Pray for Darron’s wife, Angela, and their daughter, Whitney, along with everyone else in the family as they walk through this valley.

Miss Gloria Whitmore is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow.  Pray for her and pray that all will go as planned.

Liz Whalen left a comment saying her surgery has been set for August 29.

Keep praying for Miss Annette Williams’ brother who is in a Birmingham hospital.

I do not have an update on my friend, Claude, but hope he was discharged from the hospital as he so wants to be at home.

I was honored to be able to share briefly in the celebration of life service for Miss Annie Rogers.  I thought Jim Cooper and Pastor Royce did a nice job.

I have been on a proverbial roller coaster regarding my flight to Guatemala.  I was scheduled to fly from Pensacola at 6:00AM this morning but Delta allowed me to change to a 3:05PM flight out of Mobile in order for me to take part in the service.  Then I get a notice that my flight had been delayed meaning I would not make my connection in Atlanta.  So, Delta booked me on the 1:20PM flight which meant I would have to hustle to make the flight.  Dana got to the airport in time and then the flight was delayed.  I am now in Atlanta and this flight has been delayed.  I am just thankful to have the opportunity to fly.  Schedule changes, delays, et cetera are all part of it.

There is a good side/bad side to this day of traveling.  The good side is that Miles Ferguson was on the flight from Mobile to Atlanta so we had the opportunity to talk some.  The bad side is that Soy will be the one meeting me in Guatemala City – why me Lord!  The best side is that I will get to see my wife, two daughters and three granddaughters at some point tonight.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  Bro. Jerry Hovel will be teaching in the auditorium.

Bobby & the boys are one game below five hundred.  The time is now to start turning this thing around!  Come on Bobby!

I pray that you will have a great rest of the afternoon and evening with Jesus.

Mrs. Mary Annie Elizabeth Rogers, 104, passed from this life on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at her home in Grand Bay, Alabama, surrounded by family and friends. Mrs. Rogers was born May 23, 1914 to John and Hattie Sessions. She was a charter and lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Grand Bay. Her Christian life was as beautiful as the flowers she loved so well and her influence will forever remain in the lives of those who knew her. Mrs. Rogers was preceded in death by her parents, John & Hattie Sessions, husband, Floyd Rogers, Sr., son, Warren Buddy Rogers, son baby Rogers and great-granddaughter, Jesica Townsend. Survivors include her daughter, Evie and Buddy Patteson, son, Barney and Linda Rogers, daughter-in-law, Mattie and Herbert Boutwell as well as nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a special friend, Sue Stanley Swafford. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 23, 2018 from 5:00 until 9:00pm at First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, Alabama. Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 11:00am from the church with Dr. Royce Dubose, Rev. Teddy Turrentine and Jim Cooper officiating. Friends may call at the church from 9:00 until 11am leading up to service time. Interment will follow at Grand Bay Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Wayne Rogers, Chuck Patteson, Michael Boutwell, Dwight Patteson, James Rogers and Jonathan Stringfellow. Honorary pallbearers will be Max Townsend, Daniel Stringfellow, Jody Smith, Heath Bryant, Warren Stringfellow, Porter Smith, Kolbe Smith, Fisher Bryant and Tate Bryant. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th Floor – New York, NY 10001.

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

Phil Sims’ son-in-law, Darron, remains in the hospital as does my friend, Claude.  Please pray for these two men in their respective situations.

Miss Annette Williams’ has a brother who is eighty eight years old.  He was injured in a freak accident last Thursday when he was literally run over by a bus.  He is in a Birmingham hospital.  Pray for him.

The visitation with the Annie Rogers family takes place tonight from 5:00 until 9:00PM at First Baptist Grand Bay.  Another visitation will take place tomorrow from 9:00AM until the 11:00AM service time.  Pray for the Rogers family.

Keep praying for Tammy Womack.

Miss Gloria Whitmore will have surgery this Wednesday.  Pray that all goes well.  She has waited a good while for this surgery date.

Liz Whalen is still waiting to have her surgery scheduled.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  Levi Seymour and crew did a nice job of leading our worship last night.  I appreciate folks who are willing to serve.

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)

Darron Haynes remains hospitalized.  Yes, he has physical problems but his attitude is about as good as it gets.  He and Angela appreciate the prayer support.

My friend, Claude, also remains in the hospital having had surgery on Friday.  Pray for Claude as he has some very specific requests.

The plan is for the visitation with the Annie Rogers family to take place tomorrow night and the service on Tuesday morning.  Everything will take place from First Baptist.  I will update the arrangements once they have been completed.  Pray for the Rogers family.

Regular schedule for the Friendship family this morning and evening.  My prayer is for faithfulness from each of us.

Lord willing, I will still fly to Guatemala on Tuesday but a bit later than originally scheduled.  The Rogers family asked me to help with Miss Annie’s service which I count as an honor.  Delta was very gracious in helping me get my ticket changed without charging me the proverbial “arm & leg” (they only got the arm on this one).  I was scheduled to fly out of Pensacola but that was not possible time wise so the kind lady at Delta allowed me to switch to Mobile for my departing flight.  I am blessed.

Wow, yesterday was a pretty warm one.  Did I finish with all of the yard work?  Not exactly but please do not tell Lisa.  I had to make some visits which cut into my yard time.  I do know that I sweated through several changes of clothes and drank about eight bottles of water.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Attend church services today!

Saw Scott Fontenot yesterday and he had his prize watermelon in the back of his truck.  It weighs one hundred and ninety pounds (190).  Maybe he will do like they do in Guatemala – bring it to church tomorrow and place it on the altar as a first fruit offering.  Definitely an impressive watermelon!

Phil Sims’ son-in-law, Darron, has been admitted to the hospital with two blood clots.  One is in an arm and the other in a lung.  Obviously this is a serious need.  Pray for Darron, Angela, Whitney and the rest of the family.  Pray for the medical folks as they decide how to treat Darron’s condition.

When I was writing my earlier entry this morning I was unaware that just before that Miss Annie Rogers had been promoted to Heaven.  She passed from this life around 4:45AM.  Pray for her family as they make arrangements and walk through this valley.  Yes, Miss Annie lived to be 104 years old but death still stings.  “Absent from the body, present with the Lord!”

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

Really nothing “new” to report regarding those folks for whom we have been praying so just keep praying.

Nora did well through her surgery yesterday.  Thanks to those who prayed.

Miss Annie Rogers, age 104, is low physically.  She and her family certainly need our prayer support.  She is at home.  What a wonderful lady.  I think everyone in Grand Bay knows, or knows of, Miss Annie!

Regular schedule for the Friendship family tomorrow morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all three services.  It is possible that the Friendship family will be asked to vote to change the church year (June 1 – May 31) and fiscal year (January 1 – December 31) in our evening service.

Members of the Friendship family are being given basically one month to sign up for our June 20 – 27 GRACE Ministries trip.  After that date, all openings will go to others outside the Friendship family.  It will then immediately be “full!”  I am especially in hopes that our students will join us on this trip.  Sign up by sending me an e-mail – pastor@friendshipfamily.net.

Courtney Cavin sent me a message yesterday and she was pretty excited!  She actually cooked a different kind of Hamburger Helper on Thursday night and did not even burn it!  Folks, that is pretty amazing stuff!

Bobby & the boys did not open the second half in the way I had hoped as they lost to Leslie Hacker’s Braves.  They are now one game below five hundred ball and are six and a half games out of first place in the NL East.  I have my opinion as to why they are struggling but I will keep that to myself.  The Dodgers won in Manny’s debut and are now one and a half games up in the NL West.  That is the only division that is really close at this point.

Well, the yard is calling my name – again!  It is a vicious cycle as I mow and Charles fertilizes!  By the way, if you ever have a yard man that you do not like just plant Mayhaw trees!  Talk about tough to mow around/under.  Charles has like nineteen of them!  Lord willing, I leave for Guatemala on Tuesday and Lisa told me this place had better be in tip top shape or else!  Or else what?  I am afraid to ask!  So, it is now breaking day so out the door I go!

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.  Go to church tomorrow!