Pastor's Blog

Welcome to the family, Hunter!  I had the glorious privilege of leading Hunter to the Lord last Monday evening.  He was in church Wednesday night, Sunday morning, Discipleship Training and then the evening service.  Praise the Lord!  God gives the increase!  Lee Fore was very involved in this young man’s salvation.  Great story!

Steve Morris has an appointment with his doctor this afternoon and should learn the results from the biopsy taken last Monday.  Pray that all goes well.

Spoke to Larry Whitehurst early yesterday morning.  He is recovering but is not jumping any fences.  Pray for Larry’s recovery.

Speaking of Larry, his and Judy’s oldest son, Rodney, has been diagnosed with a malignancy and will be receiving radiation treatment for the next six weeks.  He will go get fitted for the treatments today.

Tonie Lee spoke to me in the service yesterday morning and talked about her son’s diagnosis.  Andrew has a very rare disease – like six hundred cases total (not sure if that is in the world or just the states).  Pray for young Andrew.

As far as I know, Tim Knighten remains in a holding pattern.  Keep praying.

Andy & Betty Hamil missed a second consecutive Sunday yesterday due to Betty’s fall.  They never miss two consecutive Sundays.  Pray for Betty’s recovery.

Myrtle Bowden was in our services yesterday.  Not sure what the next step is for her but do ask you to pray.

A very close relative of three of our church members had a serious surgery last week and remains in ICU.  Pray!

Jeanette Bates will soon see the surgeon and will hopefully get rid of her walker.  She seems to be doing well.  Keep praying for a complete recovery.

Our ladies will be hosting a diaper giveaway tomorrow morning.  This is a monthly happening.  Pray for this ministry.

The egg hunt will take place this Saturday, April 16, beginning at 9:15AM.  Bro. Dylan needs folks to help as early as 7:00AM.  Contact him if you can help.

We are down to a precious few of the tumblers.  Like two or three tops.  Contact me if you want one as I will not be placing another order for here.  The next ones will go to Guatemala and will sell for twenty five dollars each.  Just FYI.

Ok, a member of the Friendship family called out Big Bob’s bar-b-que last week in an email to me.  I was highly offended!  So, we will be having a church fellowship on Sunday evening, July 3.  The main fare will be bar-b-que and this offending member will be the lead chef.  More details coming but please save the date!

Speaking of church fellowships, we are going to have a crawfish boil (probably shrimp too) on Sunday, May 8.  This will be a church wide event that will begin at 5:00PM.  Here is what I need – some men who know how to boil the crawfish to step up and take the lead.  Contact me via email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  The sooner, the better.  More details coming.

The church office is open today through Thursday this week.  Normal hours.

FYI, I had three blog readers respond to last Thursday’s post.  One of them was not even being truthful.  So, I think we are probably down to five regular readers.  Let’s go Dragnet – “just the facts, ma’am, just the facts!”

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

Good morning to all thirteen readers of the “blob!”  The weather forecasters are calling for us to enjoy three beautiful days here in South Mobile County.  I hope that you will enjoy them but not so much that you miss the church services on Sunday!  Just saying!

The memorial service for Kirk Crowder’s father takes place at Serenity this morning beginning at 10:00AM.  Help is needed to feed the family following the service.  Those helping need to have their food in the fellowship hall no later than 10:00AM.  Thank you in advance for helping and a very special thanks to Tina Wilkinson for coordinating this ministry.  Tina is awesome!

Nothing new as far as I know on those for whom we have been praying.  Steve Morris, any word?  Folks, keep praying!

Picture day tomorrow for our soccer teams.  I am sure those involved know the details.  Pray for this ministry.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, April 10.  There will be a meeting beginning at 4:00PM for those interested in discussing the proposed budget.  That budget will be voted on during our evening service.

Our focus this Sunday morning will be on the Cross and our evening service will see us observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper.  I pray that the members of the Friendship family will attend these services in strong numbers.

Our Easter Sunday schedule is as follows:  sunrise service at 6:00AM followed by worship services at 8:00AM and 10:30AM.

Our tumbler supply is dwindling pretty quickly.  We now have zero yellow tumblers.  We still have two orange ones, seven reds and eleven purples.  Email me if you want one or more.  Again, first come, first served.

Ok, let me be honest.  I had an ulterior motive for going to Hartselle on Wednesday.  Garnett’s Lawn Equipment has a nicely stocked supply of Gravely mowers especially the 660.  I was thinking that perhaps the “big boss” (Willard) would want to bless a pastor with one of those as a token of his appreciation for God’s blessings on his business.  What was I thinking?

As I examine the landscape, I am afraid our blog readership has perhaps fallen into the single digits.  My use of “thirteen” in the opening of this entry is probably an exaggeration.  How do I know this?  Folks who claim to be readers send me emails, messages, et cetera asking questions or making statements about things that were clearly mentioned in the blog earlier which means they did not read the blog.  That hurts!  So, is it worth spending time, energy and space on the web for seven or eight readers?  (Asking for a friend!)  I had high hopes of being like Pastor Jack Bailey and his blog readership numbers but that simply is not feasible.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  Enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord has made!

Sorry this entry is late.  No excuses.

Friendship family, we need some immediate help.  Kirk Crowder’s dad recently passed from this life.  There will be a memorial service for him tomorrow (Friday) morning.  We are going to feed the family (twenty to thirty folks) following the service and this is an eleventh hour request for help with the food.  Tina Wilkinson has graciously agreed to coordinate this ministry.  Please contact the church office today (Thursday) or contact Tina directly.  All food must be in the fellowship hall by 10:00AM tomorrow.  Thank you in advance for your help.  Pray for Kirk and his family.

Visited Larry Whitehurst yesterday morning and the plan was to discharge him from the hospital today if all goes well.  Keep praying for Larry.

Keep praying for Myrtle as the doctor leads her through this next process.  Again, Myrtle has a strong faith.

Tim Knighten is basically in a holding pattern for the time being.  Peggy wrote, “more waiting but even more trusting!”  So, we with and pray with them.

The doctors have diagnosed Tonie Lee’s son, Andrew.  He has a most rare condition that is too much for me to repeat.  The family is grateful to at least have a diagnosis.  Pray for Andrew.

The memorial service for Dale Gaulden was well attended by family members and friends.  Keep praying for Grace and the family.

Several more orders came in for the GRACE Ministries tumblers yesterday.  Here is where our inventory stands as of this writing:  purple (11); red (7); yellow (3); orange (2).   Again, first come, first served.  Email me to pre-order your tumbler(s).

Miss Vinnie Brewer will be happy to know that I left Dale’s service and drove to Hartselle to visit my Mama and others.  Spent about three plus hours with Mama and even had the privilege of sitting beside her during church.  Pastor Joe David Bailey preached one of the best messages on tithing that I have ever heard.  I saw a good number of friends in the service and then enjoyed supper at Big Bob’s following the service.  I enjoyed spending time with Mama.  Need to do it more often.  Thank you for allowing me to be away and thanks to Bro. Jerry for teaching in my absence.

Here is what will not make Miss Vinnie a happy camper.  I left Mama’s around 9:00PM and headed back home.  Let’s just say that I made it safe and sound thanks to the Lord’s blessings.  The problem I faced was not being able to fall asleep once I got home.  Also, I did not let Lisa know I was driving back home so as to not worry her.  Plus, I did not want her spending time finding my life insurance policy.  I did get to see Willard Garnett which is reason enough to drive almost eight hundred miles in fifteen hours.

So, I am home but will not be out and about much today.  Will use time to study for this Sunday.

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

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Larry Whitehurst’s surgery went well yesterday.  He remains in the hospital.  Pray for Larry to recover quickly.

Word came to me yesterday that Myrtle Bowden’s latest scan results did not produce the desired results.  Therefore, she has been taken off the treatment she was receiving and will go back to the previous treatment regiment.  Myrtle has a very strong faith and is believing God to work in her life again.  Pray for Myrtle, the medical personnel and Myrtle’s family.

Tim Knighten had a phone consult with his urologist yesterday.  The scan showed no abnormal activity in Tim’s brain – praise the Lord.  The doctor wants to refer Tim to M.D. Anderson and the possibility of taking a different route regarding his situation.  So, keep praying as Tim & Peggy wait, pray and trust God.  Tim & Peggy are grateful for the prayer support from their church family and others.

The memorial service for Dale Gaulden takes place today in Baldwin County.  Pray for Dale’s family.

The GRACE Ministries tumblers are being pre-ordered at a pretty good clip.  A few orders came in yesterday.  Hopefully, we will have the tumblers in hand this Sunday, 4/10.  We have eleven purple, eight red, six yellow, and two orange left.  Twenty dollars cash per tumbler.  First come, first served.  Email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net to place your order.

By the way, we have some fresh coffee from Guatemala that Daphne brought back.  Ten dollars per pound.  Very limited supply.

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

I have been “scolded” for not writing a blog for the past four days.  Was not going to write one today but after getting “slammed” I decided to take that stick away!  Tough readership!  I apologize for my slothfulness!

Larry Whitehurst will have surgery today and will remain in the hospital.  Pray that all will go well and that his recovery will be quick and complete.

Tim Knighten had his scan yesterday but I do not have any update on his situation.  Keep praying for Tim.

Steve Morris had his biopsy yesterday.  All went well and now he just waits for the official results.  Pray for Steve.

The memorial service for Dale Gaulden will take place tomorrow morning from the Alabama Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Baldwin County.  Pray for Grace and the family.

Betty Hamil took a fall last Friday and went to be checked on Sunday.  No broken bones – praise the Lord.  Pray for Betty as she recovers from the soreness.

The ordination service this past Sunday night was good.  I am thankful for Eddie Albritton.  Pray for him and our other eight active deacons – great guys!

I actually attended a soccer match at the church this past Saturday!  Had to take meds once I got home but I did it!  The soccer leagues are going well.

It appears we are going to have the potential for some strong storms later today.  Maybe more tomorrow afternoon.  Be safe!

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Lord willing, we should have another supply of the GRACE Ministries tumblers available this Sunday, 4/10.  You can place your orders beforehand by sending me an email (pastor@friendshipfamily.net).  Here are the orders I presently have:  Heidi Butler (purple); Kevin Sprinkle (red); Henry & Sue Wyse (two orange); Jay Oakwood (orange).  The other color we will have is yellow (I think canary yellow).  This will most likely be our final order so first come, first served.

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