Pastor's Blog

I failed to mention in yesterday’s entry that the back forty has never looked better than it does right now.  Rhett “McGyver” Butler lead a crew this past Saturday morning who trimmed limbs, cut down trees, filled in holes, and leveled the South side of that area.  I do not know all who were involved but I am very, very thankful for their work!

Also, Scott Older won the t-shirt for being the most popular station at our TOTAT Sunday night.  He was the hayride guy and he carried a full load each time except the first one.

Eddie Albritton gave up a few hours on Saturday to help me get an ox out of the ditch.  I am grateful!

The final total for the love offering for Soy, Deidra and the girls was $6, 047.10!  How about that!  Praise the Lord!  Soy & Deidra were blown away!  I was totally surprised as I know the Friendship family!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Buddy Brewer will travel home from Birmingham today – praise the Lord!

John Milton was sitting outside in the sun yesterday.  (You are not going to keep John in for very long.  I am just surprised that he was not doing something in his Fall garden!).

Beth Rockwell will be moved to a rehab facility soon.

Donna Glass will have surgery tomorrow.

There are a couple of other prayers needs that I am not at liberty to share.  Just pray!

Today is an important day in the life of our country politically speaking.  I hope it is the start of turning our country around in a positive way.

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

The Lord certainly blessed us with a really good day yesterday.  First, our attendance was up in our morning services which is a blessing.  Then, we were able to worship through the ordinance of baptism in our second service as Bro. Abel & Bro. Dylan baptized three of our students to conclude that service.  We also had two adults come forward desiring baptism and that will take place this coming Sunday evening as a part of our worship service.  Praise the Lord!

The Trail of Truth and Treats was a huge success!  Thank you to TJ & Lindsey and Bro. Abel for spearheading this ministry.  A huge thank you to each person who hosted a station.  I am not sure what the final numbers were but we had a strong attendance from beginning to end.  It was certainly one of our best TOTAT’s, if not the best.  We give God the glory for providing us with beautiful weather.  What a great day!

The love offering for Soy & Deidra was amazing!  I do not know the “to the penny” total at this point but I do know it was over five thousand eight hundred dollars – wow!  Again, praise the Lord!  Soy, Deidra and the girls are extremely thankful for this expression of love shown to them.  As pastor/father/grandfather, I am humbled and very grateful as well.  Thank you Friendship family for loving the Taylors!  Love is a verb which denotes action and you did extremely well.  Best pastor appreciation gift I have ever received!  To God be the glory!

John Milton Ladnier sent me an email yesterday afternoon letting me know that he is home.  Still waiting on the final lab reports.  He is grateful for the prayer support.  Keep praying.

Myrtle Bowden cannot have the test she needs done until the sixteenth of this month.  She has a calm confidence in the Lord even through these delays.  Keep praying!

Buddy Brewer will come home from Birmingham tomorrow – praise the Lord!  Buddy is doing well.  Keep praying.

Beth Rockwell is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital and moved to a rehab center for twenty one days before going home.  Thank you for praying and keep the prayer support going.

Donna Glass is scheduled to have surgery on one of her ankles this Wednesday.  Pray that all goes well.

The numbers for our basketball leagues are up by about forty percent over last season’s totals.  The absolute deadline for signing up for these leagues is this Thursday, November 4.  Contact Eddie Albritton for more information or to sign up.

Two very important Sunday nights coming up in November – “Night of Hope” on 11/14 and then the “Night of Thanks” on 11/21.  These are going to be great nights!  Specific details coming this week.

I arrived home from Guatemala to find three Christmas trees up in our house.  Yes, you read that correctly!

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

Coley & Katelyn had their first of three court dates yesterday and it went well.  Thank you for praying and please keep doing so.

Basketball sign ups this Saturday, 10/30, from 8:00AM until 11:00AM in our CAB.   Eddie Albritton is the point man for this ministry.

McGyver will be on the back forty in the morning beginning at 7:00AM.  Any, and all, help appreciated.  Cutting limbs and filling in holes in preparation of TOTAT.

Special offering for the Taylor family this Sunday morning.  Please pray and give generously!

Baptism in our 10:30AM service this Sunday.

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

Rhett Butler will be on the back forty of the church campus this Saturday morning, 10/30, beginning at 7:00AM in order to trim some limbs, fill in some holes, et cetera in preparation for the Trail of Truth and Treats.  He could use some help.  Contact him for more information or simply show up Saturday morning.

Elizabeth Holt is having surgery today.  Pray that all goes well.

Keep praying for John Milton Ladnier in his recovery from surgery.

Thank you to Tina & Rhea Wilkinson for coordinating the food ministry to the Jordan family.  Thank you to all who helped.

Special love offering for Soy, Deidra and the girls this Sunday morning, 10/31.  Please pray and give as the Lord leads.

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

Happy birthday to my sister, Melissa!  I hope her day is great!

BTW, happy birthday one day in advance to my younger brother, Freddie.  I hope his birthday is great too!

John Milton Ladnier’s surgery went well yesterday.  Awaiting final lab work but all appears good.  Thank you for praying and please continue to do so.

Coley & Katelyn Johnson have three very important court dates approaching with the first one being this Thursday, 10/28.  They ask for the prayer support of the Friendship family and others.  Pray that all goes well!

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

As far as I know, Mark Timberlake had a surgical procedure done on his leg yesterday.  Timber has been through it physically so keep him in your prayers.

Keep praying for Beth Rockwell as she remains in the hospital.

Otherwise, I know of no significant changes in the ones for whom we have been praying.  Just keep praying.

The visitation with the Mary Jane Howard family takes place today from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM service time at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Heron Bay.  Pray for Katie and family during this time.

There will be a service at the Mission of Hope tonight beginning at 7:00PM.  Carl Ray Moulds will be the speaker.  Everyone invited.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Just got word from John Milton Ladnier that the scans showed no cancer anywhere else in his body.  So, surgery is scheduled for Monday, 10/25, to remove the existing spot.  Praise the Lord for this good report.  Pray for the surgery to go well.

Danny Lewis is undergoing biopsies today.  Pray for all to go well there too.

Amy Huhn is meeting with an oral surgeon this afternoon.  Pray for wisdom for all involved.

John Milton did not hear from the medical folks regarding the results of his scan.  So, we just keep praying.

As far as I know, Myrtle did meet with the doctor yesterday afternoon but I do not have any update this morning.

Otherwise, I think the others for whom we have been praying remain about the same.

I did learn yesterday that Miss Barbara Hamilton fell on Tuesday and suffered some broken bones.  I hope to get a more detailed update today.  I think she was at home when she fell.  Pray for Miss Barbara.  She is a sweetheart!

Also, Jeanette Bates took a fall and while she did not suffer any broken bones I am told she looks like she has been in a twelve round boxing match.  She was in the parking lot of Andy’s Music when she fell.  (Folks, this is Sonny’s story so I am just going by what he said!). Pray for Jeanette!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Beth Rockwell remains in the hospital.  She has improved in some areas and has had some setbacks in other areas.  Keep praying for Beth.  Pray for Chuck and Greg as they wait beside Beth.

Myrtle sees the doctor today.  Pray for a productive meeting.

John Milton had the scan yesterday and should get the results fairly quickly I would think.  Keep praying!

Buddy Brewer is still in Birmingham.  Pray for Buddy & Burl.

Jennifer Kirschenman may be able to attend our service this Sunday.

The visitation and service for Katie Tillman’s grandmother takes place this Friday in Heron Bay.  Keep praying for the Howard family.

Keep praying for the teens involved in the accident last Wednesday.  One remains hospitalized and another one had a cast put on their arm yesterday.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.

Trail of Truth and Treats volunteers needed.  Contact TJ, Lindsey or Bro. Abel.

Basketball sign ups continue.  Contact Eddie Albritton.

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

John Milton’s scan takes place today.  Pray that he will get a report of no cancer in any other place within his body.  If so, surgery will be scheduled for next Monday, 10/25.

The teen involved in the accident last Wednesday did undergo surgery yesterday but they were not able to do all they were in hopes of doing.  Keep praying.

The arrangements have been completed for Katie Tillman’s paternal grandmother, Mary Jane Howard.  The visitation with the family will take place this Friday, 10/22, from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM service time at St Michael’s Catholic Church 15872 Heron Bay Loop Rd E, Coden, AL 36523.  Pray for the Howard family.

Keep praying for Beth Rockwell as she remains hospitalized.

Also, keep praying for Buddy Brewer as he remains in Birmingham.

Myrtle Bowden will see the doctor tomorrow and should have a much clearer picture of what is next regarding her treatment options.  Pray for Myrtle.

Remember to pray for Danny Lewis too as he will be having more tests done to determine the cause of his physical problems.

We need more folks to volunteer to host a station for our “Trail of Truth and Treats” on Sunday, 10/31, from 4:00PM until 6:30PM on our back forty!  Contact TJ, Lindsey or Bro. Abel for more details or to sign up to be a host.

Pass the word about our basketball leagues.  Sign up continues this Friday, 10/22.  Contact Eddie Albritton for more information.

Last night, October 18, was definitely “Friendship family night” at the Jackson County Fair in Pascagoula, MS.  We had fifty one folks in our group!  Yes, fifty one!  It was a great night of fellowship and fun.

I am very thankful to the Lord for this cooler weather.  How nice it is!

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