Pastor's Blog

Let’s begin with really good news.  Terrell Brooks was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  An eighty-six year old man has quadruple heart by-pass surgery and is discharged from the hospital five days later.  Praise the Lord!  Pray for Terrell as he continues to recover!

Joey Switzer’s surgery yesterday morning went well.  He had a tear in his knee and a good bit of stuff that needed to be cleaned out.  Pray for Joey to “behave” during this recovery time!

Gayla Dyess was scheduled to have surgery today but that has been postponed due to an upper respiratory issue.  Keep praying for Gayla.

Robert Baria as supposed to have a nerve procedure done on his shoulder this morning but that has been postponed too.  Robert is in a lot of pain.  Pray for Robert!

Angie Bentley is scheduled to have a PET scan this Friday, 3/24.  Pray that she will get a great report.  She is faithfully trusting the Lord!

Keep praying for Myrtle Bowden.  She is home and is battling through some tough days.

Also, keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow as he awaits his next heart procedure.

Heather Baria’s mother is having some serious health issues.  Pray for her and the family.

Pastor Johnny Maxwell of Priceville, Alabama was taken to the hospital yesterday following some health issues.  He was discharged last night but needs our prayers.  Pastor Johnny is a living miracle and a great friend.  Pray for Pastor Johnny and his wife, Sharon.

Speaking of friends, please continue to pray for Kristie Potts in Michigan as she battles a malignancy.  She and her husband, John, are great folks!

A huge “thank you” to James Clark of Brightspeed for getting our internet and phone service repaired yesterday afternoon.  It is a temporary fix but at least we have service.  Thank you, James!

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

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

Dale Ellerman will be going for his pre-op stuff today.  Pray for Dale as he drives to and from Birmingham.

Joey Switzer will be having knee repair surgery this morning.  Most likely, he is facing knee replacement surgery some years down the road but this procedure will buy him some time.  Pray for all to go well.

Gayla Dyess will be having surgery tomorrow, 3/22.  Pray for a successful surgery.

Robert Baria will be having a nerve procedure done in the morning.  If this does not work, he will be facing shoulder surgery in the very near future.  Pray for this procedure to work.

Terrell Brooks continues to do well.  The expectation is that he will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.  Praise the Lord!  Keep praying for Terrell.

Continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow and Myrtle Bowden.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

We will have a special Easter Saturday, 4/8, with our buses running their routes, classes for our children up to the fifth grade followed by preschool church and children’s church.  A huge egg hunt will end the day.

Our Easter schedule will see us have two worship services – 8:00AM & 10:00AM.

I pray you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

P.S. – Yesterday’s entry was late.  Today’s is way early as I am in the office using the internet.  Our internet and phone service at the house is down for the count.

Sorry for the lateness of this entry.  No excuses.

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise Him.

The Friendship family adopted the 2023 budget as proposed by the Finance Committee.  I appreciate this committee and their work.  I also appreciate the sweet spirit that was present in the meeting.

John Milton Ladnier, Grant Tillman and Larry Whitehurst have been appointed to bring a proposal to the church family regarding the building of a “bus barn” which will allow us to keep all of our buses under cover.  Also, to work on selling the short bus.  Pray for these men as they work on these things.

Visited Terrell Brooks in the hospital this morning.  He is doing great.  Our visit was cut short as the doctor came in but Terrell looked good and sounded good.  Amazing.  Keep praying for Terrell & Marie.

Dale Ellerman will be traveling to Birmingham and back tomorrow for his pre-op stuff.  Pray for safe travels.

Jim Broadus’ sister passed from this life and that service will take place today.  Pray for the Young family.

Myrtle Bowden is having some tough days due to excessive pain.  Keep praying for Myrtle and Sammy.

There was a death in Gary Walton’s family.  He and Rachel “may” be traveling out West this week for the service.  Pray for this family and for Gary & Rachel.

Gayla Dyess is scheduled to have surgery this Wednesday.  Pray that all will go well.

Clinton Stringfellow will see his doctor this week and is scheduled to have a surgical procedure next Monday.  Keep praying for Clinton.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday – morning and evening.

Work day and garden planting day on Saturday, April 1.  Mark your calendars!

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

Yesterday, Nanette Fontenot sent me an email update on her father, Terrell Brooks.  The main point of her message was saying how powerful prayer is as Terrell was in really tough shape prior to his heart surgery.  Emergency surgery was necessary!  So, God answered the prayers of his people.  Marie, Nanette, Terry and family are thankful for the prayer support.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.  I “think” Dede’s class is taking a break for a few weeks beginning tomorrow in order for our adult choir under the direction of Jeanette Bates to prepare for Easter Sunday morning.  Bill Kendrick’s class will continue to meet at 5:00PM.

Speaking of Easter Sunday 2023, we will have two services that day – 8:00AM and 10:00AM.  Nothing else.

The proposed 2023 budget will be presented for discussion in a meeting tomorrow beginning at 4:15PM.  A vote, with no further discussion, will take place in the evening service.

Best of luck to Auburn (5:10PM tip) and Alabama (8:40PM tip) today.  Both games will be televised on TBS.  War Eagle and Roll Tide!

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

Terrell Brooks had four heart by-passes yesterday afternoon.  He did well and is presently in CCU.  I so appreciate Marie staying touch with me and giving me updates.  Pray for Terrell as he goes through the recovery process.  Pray for Marie as she serves as his care giver.

Keep praying for Myrtle.  She is at home continuing her battle against a malignancy.  Pray for Sammy and family.

Keep praying for Clinton Stringfellow.  If nothing changes, he is scheduled to have a procedure done on his heart on Monday, 3/27.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, 3/19.

A very huge “thank you” to Eddie Albritton for going above and beyond to help me last night.  What a great guy!

Congratulations to both Auburn and Alabama on their respective victories in the basketball tourney yesterday.  SEC, SEC, SEC!

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.  Stay dry and be safe on the roads!

Terrell Brooks has been taken to surgery as the doctors found a blockage and decided a stent would not suffice to correct the problem.  The surgery is in progress now and will last several hours.  Pray for Terrell, Marie and the family.

Terrell Brooks has been admitted to the hospital.  He is scheduled to have a heart cath this morning and, if needed, a stent put in place.  Pray for Terrell and Marie.

Myrtle Bowden was discharged from the hospital yesterday – praise the Lord!  Keep praying for Myrtle, Sammy and family.

Continue to pray for Clinton Stringfellow as he is scheduled for a surgical procedure later this month.

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

This entry is late!  Duh!  Long story and it is not interesting at all so let’s skip the details.

Myrtle Bowden was moved into a unit early this morning but is now back in a regular hospital room.  There is a possibility that she will get to come home tomorrow.  That is her hope!  Keep praying for Myrtle, Sammy and their family.

Ryan Hatcher’s surgery went well.  I actually was able to see him late yesterday afternoon and he was doing good thanks to the medicine.  Keep praying for Ryan.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

Go ahead and mark Saturday, April 1, on your calendar and make plans to be on our campus that day.  Details forthcoming.

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

Ryan Hatcher will undergo surgery on his back this morning.  Pray that all goes well.  If so, he will go home later today.

Myrtle Bowden has been admitted to the hospital.  I will visit her later today.  Keep praying for Myrtle as she is experiencing much pain.

Pastor Tim Cauley’s mother passed away last week.  The second visitation and the celebration of life service takes place today from the Forts Lake Assembly of God church building.  Pray for her husband, Bro. C. D. and the family during this time.  Bro. C.D. & Mrs Cauley were married for almost seventy-nine years.

Our women’s ministry will be giving away diapers and wipes tomorrow morning.

Really good day in our services yesterday.  We give God the glory!  I am very thankful for those who remembered the time change and were present for our services.

Special thanks to Blaine & Blake for coming to the aid of a damsel in distress yesterday afternoon.  Much appreciated.

Special thanks to Debbie Hyatt for the special food “treat” last night.  Good stuff!

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday, 3/15.

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

I sure hope that you have remembered that today is time change Sunday!  You should “spring forward” meaning you lost an hour during the night!  (Members of Congress and Mr. President, fix this!)

Myrtle Bowden is struggling right now.  Pray fervently for her, please.

Liz Whalen sent me a message yesterday.  She got a “best case scenario” from the doctor.  No chemo needed.  She and John are praising the Lord and are very thankful to everyone for the prayers.  Amen!

A huge “thank you” to John Milton Ladnier for using his tractor and planter yesterday to get most of our (Blake, Blaine & me) in the ground.  Hiring Blake & Blaine was about like losing four good men but at least they were here!  Again, thank you to John Milton for his continued kindnesses to me!

Also, a huge “thank you” to Gary Denbleyker for servicing my mower which I am not supposed to be driving – right!  The past two days have seen a bunch of grass mowed and weeds eaten!  I am blessed with really great neighbors!

The question I have been getting lately is, “how did your sleep study go?”  Got the results this past week which shows I have “mild” sleep apnea which means I am doing nothing regarding it.  Lisa and Daphne agree with me.  Deidra has sent me like a million links as to why I need a machine.  She needs to remember that she is not my mama!  As Lisa said, “it really does not matter what anyone else says, you are going to do what you want regardless!”  Well said!

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