Pastor's Blog

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Miss Lillian Brinkman was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon and will have heart surgery this morning.  Miss Lillian is a charter member of the Friendship family.  She is still very active in our church hardly ever missing a service.  She is ninety years old.  What an inspiration.  Pray that all goes well through this surgery.

Regular schedule this Sunday on our campus with one exception – no Discipleship Training.  Please take note of that as it will remain true at least through July.

Our deacons will meet this Sunday at 5:00PM.  Men, please note the change of the time.

McKemie Place ministry this Tuesday night, June 4, at 6:00PM.  Pray.  Participate if you can.  Contact Randall Broome for more information.

I watched game one of the NBA finals last night and could not believe how the Raptors handled the Warriors.  I figured it would be the Warriors in four.  Not so fast my friend!  Television drags the finals out way too long.  It seems they will not play a potential game seven until some point in August!

The guy winning on Jeopardy these days is pretty incredible.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  Can someone please tell me where May 2019 went?

Happy birthday to my wife, Lisa!  I hope her day is a great one.  How old you ask?  Let me just say that one would never guess her age by her looks as she has always looked much younger than her age.  She is a keeper for sure!

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Received a message from Pattie Suthoff that Bernard’s son, Eddie, has suffered a stroke.  He is in a hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Bernard has spoken to him by phone.  Pray for Eddie.

Matt Everett’s father has been put back into ICU.  Pray for him.

Bro. Jerry Hovel had an appointment with his doctor yesterday and it went well.  He was taken off some of his medications.  Per Tena, he is feeling good and should be back in the swing of things this Sunday.  Good stuff.

Those folks who will be participating in our June GRACE Ministries trip are asked to attend a most important meeting this Sunday evening immediately following our worship service.  Obviously, attendance in the worship service is a must.  The meeting will take place at the home of Will & Amy Reynolds.  Jason & Dana Taylor will be the host in charge of feeding this group.  Please pass the word.

We had another good day in our services yesterday.  Our evening attendance was a little off from the previous Wednesday but it was still strong.  Thank God for folks who are faithful.

Bobby and the boys really worked on Leslie Hacker’s Braves last night.  That is two in a row for the Nationals.  The Dodgers had a really good comeback win over the Mets.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.  We were really blessed with our attendance last Wednesday.

Bro. Jerry Hovel will see his regular doctor today.  Pray that goes well.

The Friendship family is hospital free for the time being – praise the Lord!

A word about yesterday and the no entry.  Dana, Titus and I left Grand Bay early driving North.  Titus & I dropped Dana off in Millbrook for some work training.  We then kept driving to Hartselle where we would spend three hours with my parents along with Eddie & Sue.  I left Titus there to spend two weeks with Grayson & Jace.  Back to Millbrook I went to get Dana before we headed home.  The main purpose of my trip was to get to see my parents.  “Did you not just see them on Mother’s Day weekend?” you ask.  I did.  Next question.

Bobby & the boys beat Leslie Hacker’s Braves last night.  The Mets beat the Dodgers in LA.

The weather folks are saying we could get some rain in the form of showers tomorrow.  My garden says, “yes!”  Picked the first picking of snap beans on Monday.  Right now the biggest job is keeping the garden watered.

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

I am out of pocket today so there will be no entry.  Lord willing, I will post an entry tomorrow.  Blessings!

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Sometimes, I like it when I am wrong.  While we had a fairly large number of our folks out of town yesterday, we were still blessed with a good attendance in our two morning services.  Our second service attendance was much better than I had expected.  O me of little faith!  Thank you Friendship family for being faithful!  Thank you Heavenly Father for your unwavering faithfulness!

Props to Dale Bosarge for coordinating and leading the bowling fellowship last night.  We had a “good” crowd and it seemed everyone had a great time.  I watched as Matt Everett and Mike Thomas killed it with a 219 and 202 respectively.  They were the best two bowlers in the house!  Bob Evans?  Do not even ask!

The church office is closed today.  I am in town and available in the event of an emergency.  If I am needed, please call our house number.

It was good to see Bro. Jerry Hovel in our early service yesterday morning.  Keep praying.

Regular schedule this Wednesday morning and evening.  Just FYI.

I pray that you will have a great Memorial Day with Jesus.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

The visitation with the Craig Kirschenman family takes place this afternoon from 4:00PM until the 5:00PM beginning of the memorial service.  Both the visitation and the service will take place in our auditorium.  Pray for the family.  Thank you to those from the Friendship family who are providing the meal for the Kirschenman family.  Craig was a very special part of the Friendship family for many years.  He will be missed even though he has not been able to attend our services in recent years.

Keep praying for Matt Everett’s father who remains in the hospital.

Keith & Aninha Barrett are out of town this weekend but they did send word that Aninha’s mother, Miss Jane Lieb, is in a Pittsburgh, PA hospital battling pneumonia.  Pray for Miss Jane.

Bro. Jerry Hovel continues to recover at home.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow with one exception – no Discipleship Training.

Deacons are asked to meet at 4:30PM and the Personnel Committee at 5:00PM tomorrow.

The church wide bowling fellowship takes place tomorrow night beginning at 8:00PM at the Spanish Trail Lanes in Gautier, MS.  The requirement is church attendance and the cost is five dollars per person with a maximum of twenty dollars per immediate family.  This is open to all ages between birth to one hundred and seventeen years!  Word has it that Bob Evans may be the best bowler among the members of the Friendship family.  He was a top notch baseball player back in the day so it would not be far fetched to see him being a good bowler just based on athleticism.  Could we see a 300 tomorrow night?

Lord willing, I will be preaching in all three services tomorrow.  Is that exciting or what?  LOL!

The yard dominated my Friday and I still did not finish.  Back at it early this morning and then my attention shifts to the garden and insect control!

The church office will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day.  I will be in town in the event an emergency arises.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Mission of Hope service tonight, 5/24, beginning at 7:00PM in their chapel.  Dylan Westbrook will be bringing the message.  Everyone invited to attend.  Pray for the service.

Visited with Matt Everett’s father yesterday.  He remains in ICU.  He was very gracious in our time together.  Pray for Mr. Everett and his family.

Attempted to visit Phyllis Michalski but she had already been discharged.  Pray for Phyllis.

The visitation with the Walter Kirk, Jr family takes place today from 10:00AM until the noon service time.  Everything will be at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  Pray for Jennifer and her family during this time.

The visitation with the Craig Kirschenman family takes place tomorrow afternoon, 5/25, from 4:00PM until the 5:00PM service time.  Everything will take place in our auditorium.  Pray for Scott, Jennifer and family.

Those folks going on our June GRACE Ministries trip need to check their e-mail, please.

Regular schedule this Sunday on our campus with one exception – no Discipleship Training.  Bowling fellowship following the service.

The yard and garden are calling my name.  Wait, that is Lisa hollering my name and telling me to get with it!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Matt Everett’s father is in ICU in a local hospital.  I was unaware of this until yesterday.  Pray for him as there has been some improvement but he still has a ways to go.

Phyllis M is also in the hospital.  Seemingly battling an infection.  Pray for her?  (Why the M?  Cannot spell her last name – LOL!)

Claude Landry’s surgery was a success.  How much of his sight will he regain in that eye?  Time will tell.

Jennifer Brinkman’s father was discharged from the hospital yesterday morning.  He will be able to attend his father’s funeral service tomorrow.

Chris Collins was also discharged from the hospital yesterday shortly after noon.  He is waiting on some test results.  He told me that his pain was gone but I looked and she was still standing there!  Just saying!  LOL!

Church wide bowling fellowship this Sunday evening following our service.  Y’all come.

Summer time is here based on our temperatures.  This is for all of the folks who complain when it gets so cold i.e. forty degrees in our Winter months.

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

Craig Kirschenman, age 65, a native of Weynesville, Missouri and resident of Grand Bay, Alabama, went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Lois Kirschenman. He is survived by his brother, Scott (Jennifer) Kirschenman, nephew, Jason Kirschenman, nieces, Jenni (Bubba) Baggett and Ashley (John) Brooks, numerous, great nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held at 4pm at Friendship Baptist Church (12581 Saeger Rd. Grand Bay, AL 36541) on Saturday, May 25, 2019 and service to follow at 5pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to G.R.A.C.E. Ministries through Friendship Baptist Church.

Walter Lester Kirk, Jr, born October 3,1922, joined the love of his life, Runelle Jones Kirk, in heaven on May 15, 2019, at the age of 96. He served in WW II as a Navy Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class in the Philippines campaign and worked his entire career, 46 years, at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Lester Kirk, Sr. and Sally Ethyl Mayer; his brother, George Kirk; two sisters, Marjorie Thames and Evelyn Davis, and his son, James David Kirk.

His survivors include one son, Walter Lester (Mary) Kirk, III; two daughters, Lee Chenevert and Karen (Bob) McFarlane; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, May 24, 2019 at 12:00 Noon from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday from 10:00 AM until service time. Interment will follow in Mobile Memorial Gardens.