Pastor's Blog

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

The celebration of life service for Jimmy Tagert’s father will take place today beginning at noon from the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home.  Bro. Jerry Hovel will preach the service.  Pray for the Tagert family during this time.

Miss Dollie Trout remains in the hospital.  Lord willing, I will visit her today.

Mission of Hope service tonight beginning at 7:00PM in their chapel.  Dale Bosarge and Bryan Drake will tag team with the sharing of the Gospel.  Everyone invited to attend.

There will be one more sign up for our soccer leagues.  That will take place tomorrow (Saturday) morning from 9:30 – 11:00AM in the CAB.  If you need more information contact Amy Reynolds.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Baptism in our evening service.

I am asking the Personnel Committee to meet at 5:00PM this Sunday.

I mentioned this in the service on Wednesday.  If you go to this past Monday’s blog at shininglightabroad.com then you will be blessed by the video.  Just take my word on this one!  Ladies, tissues will be needed!

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)

The celebration of life service for Jeff Long’s mother takes place this afternoon beginning at 3:00PM in Bay Minette.  Pray for Jeff and family during this time.

Visited Marjorie Peacock late yesterday afternoon.  She had her other knee replaced a few years ago and did really well.  This knee replacement is not doing as good per her.  However, she may still be discharged today.  “May” is the key word in that last sentence.  Pray for Marjorie & Max.  What a great couple!

Maria Wainwright’s sister, Cathy, is scheduled to have heart surgery today beginning around 8:00AM.  It is expected to last somewhere between four to six hours.  Pray for all to go well.  Pray for Cathy.  Pray for the family as they wait at the hospital.

Word came to me last night via Deidra that Teresa Lara is suffering from Bell’s palsy.  She is in the hospital per Laurie King.  Her blood pressure was extremely high.  Laurie says it will take complete rest for about three weeks for her to heal.  Pray for Teresa.

Gena Davis left a comment on a blog entry last week.  She is not doing well.  Is on oxygen 24/7.  Pray for Gena!  Gena, thank you for the update.  Seems like it has been forever since Gene & Gena moved from Grand Bay – I miss Gena!

Regular schedule this morning and tonight for the Friendship family.  Please attend.

We will observe the ordinance of baptism this Sunday evening as a part of our service.

Speaking of leaving comment – are Mike & Janice Moreland still with us?  David & Sandra McElwee?  Sommer Brock?  Just curious!  We may be down to ten readers!  Folks, we cannot dip into single digits readership wise!

By the way, Kayla Hatcher wins the prize for realizing that this blog is now twelve years old as it was started in February of 2007.  Kayla’s subscription will be half price this year!

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

There will be a memorial service for Robbie Weeks, brother of Holly Martin, tonight at the Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Creola, Alabama.  The service will begin at 6:30PM.  Pray for Holly, Doug, Elizabeth and family.

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

It is true there was no blog entry yesterday.  Why?  I am so not going to throw Katie Tillman under the bus so I will just accept the blame and move on.  Enough said!

I posted the obituaries for Jimmy Tagert’s father and Jeff Long’s mother.  Jimmy’s dad passed from this life early Sunday morning and Jeff’s mother passed from this life Sunday night.  The celebration of life service for Jeff’s mother will take place tomorrow in Bay Minette.  The celebration of life for Jimmy’s father will take place on Friday at Serenity.  There will be a visitation with the Tagert family on Thursday night.  Pray for these two families.

Marjorie Peacock had knee replacement surgery yesterday and did well.  She should be home in a day or two.  She used the same surgeon as Gloria Whitmore did.  Evidently, the guy is really good.  I do know that he prays with his patients before doing surgery.  Reminds me of Dr. Whigham from years past.  Pray for Marjorie.  By the way, Gloria was back in church Sunday – amazing!

Joe Povilonis had a heart cath yesterday which revealed a blockage.  A stent was put in place to go along with one he received a few years ago.  Pray for Joe.

Maria Wainwright’s sister, Cathy, has been admitted to the hospital and they plan on doing heart surgery tomorrow if her blood thickness is acceptable.  Pray for Cathy.

A family friend, Helen Robertson Taylor, passed away in Hartselle yesterday.  David, Helen and family moved to Hartselle when Bro. Johnny was our pastor (circa 1972) to serve on staff at Shady Grove.  They never left.  David passed from this life several years ago and Helen would later marry Junior Taylor who is a cousin to Sonny Bates.  Pray for Helen’s family during this time.

Mark Mast and his team are leaving Guatemala today.  He was apparently bitten by a spider a few days ago and has had swelling in one of his legs and some pain/discomfort since then.  Pray for healing.

It has been determined that my dad is a diabetic.  His diabetes can be controlled by diet at this point.  Mama is having issues with one of her eyes and will see a specialist tomorrow.  Prayers appreciated.

Soccer registration took place last night and will do the same tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM in the CAB.  Pass the word!

We are actively signing folks up for our January 30 – February 6 and February 6 – 13, 2020 Guatemala Relief And Compassion Effort trips.  Interested?  Contact me personally.  Those trips are filling really fast and will be completely filled within a week or two.

Dr. Rex, absolutely yes to your request of last week.

It appears that we will get rain for the next several days with a decent chance of rain for the next week plus.  I would love to be getting a garden in the ground.  The Lord knows.

I will be glad when March Madness arrives!

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

Betty Gerald Long Flowers, age 83, a native and resident of Perdido, AL died Sunday, February 17, 2019 at her residence. She retired as a cafeteria worker with the Baldwin County Board of Education.

She is survived by her children, Douglas Barry Long of Ozark, MO, Teresa Diane Long of Nagshead, NC, Jeffery Alan (Carol) Long of Grand Bay, AL, Michael Edward (Rebecca) Long of Fort Valley, GA and Karen Elizabeth Long (Charles) Kerner of Perdido, AL; one brother, Norman Lee “Pete” Gerald of Atmore, AL; one sister, Margaret Dyess of Pine Grove; thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Benjamin Earl Morgan and L.W. Flowers.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at the chapel of Norris Funeral Home with Reverend Wendell Hadley officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Freewill Baptist Cemetery in Perdido.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, February 20, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. until the 3:00 p.m. service at Norris Funeral Home.

Although the family will accept flowers they suggest memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Pallbearers will be Steve Gerald, Kevin Dyess, Randall Dyess, Clay Dyess, Stephen Long and Charles Kerner.

Age 81, a resident of Mobile, Alabama, passed away on Sunday, February 17, 2019. He is survived by his wife, Willa Jean Tagert, children, Joseph Keith Tagert, Donna Kaye Abercrombie, Ronald Kent Tagert and James Kenneth, 4 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, brother, Theodore Tagert, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held at Serenity Funeral Home on Thursday, February 21, 2019 from 5 pm until 7 pm. Funeral service will be held in the chapel at Serenity on Friday, February 22, 2019 at 12 noon. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.

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

The main reason I am posting an entry today is to tell/remind the members of the Friendship family that there will be a 90th birthday celebration for Miss Lillian Brinkman this afternoon from 2:00 – 4:00PM in our fellowship hall.  All members of the Friendship family are invited to attend.  Miss Lillian is a charter member of the Friendship family and is a wonderful example of faithfulness.  Lisa will be there to represent us and I hope many other members of the Friendship family will attend.  It is a “come and go” event.  I wish Miss Lillian the best!

Jimmy Tagert’s father has been moved to another facility.  His health seems to be in decline.  Pray for Mr. Tagert and his family.

Doug Martin had a brother-in-law pass from this life yesterday.  Pray for the family.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all three services.

As I write this entry, I am sitting the Guatemala City airport waiting on my first flight.  I have enjoyed the past two days with Lizzi, Sydney and Audrey.  It has been good to be with Deidra too.  So, I am a man of conflicting emotions this morning.  Ready to get home and see family and friends there.  Sad to leave the girls and Deidra here.  Emotional stuff.

I also would love to walk down to the school construction site daily and just continue to marvel at what God has done, is doing, and is going to do.  I am really excited about this newest ministry opportunity.  It will be neat stuff the next time I get to travel to Guatemala and see the progress.  God is good!

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

The team left GRACE mountain at 4:00AM today.  They are bound for Phoenix, Grand Rapids and Mobile.  Pray for safety as they travel today.

The medical/dental team had a really strong last day.  As a matter of fact, they were seeing patients in the mission house until 6:30PM last night.  Even did some minor surgery.  What a great group of medical/dental folks led by the four doctors.  Awesome!

The building team did the house dedications and they were really, really special.  It was one of those “you had to be there” type things to truly appreciate it.  There are twenty happy new homeowners today!

Thank you for checking on this team.  Thank you for praying.  Please continue to pray for Guatemala Relief And Compassion Effort and Shining Light Abroad Ministries.

By the way, they are now digging the foundation for the school.  O happy day!

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

Happy birthday to my brother, Eddie.  I will not say how old he is today but will simply say that I will turn sixty in fifteen months if the Lord allows me to live.  Eddie is a great guy and does much for the Kingdom of God.  Hope his day is great!  (He is not one of our thirteen blog readers but hopefully word will get back to him)

Anna Carol Bosarge and Robert Baria both did well through their respective surgeries yesterday.  Praise the Lord.  Keep praying.

I do not have an update on Jimmy Tagert’s father but do ask that you keep praying for him as well.

The group left this morning and I am going to spend the next two days being “papi” to our three granddaughters.  So, no blog entries until at least Saturday morning and more likely Monday morning.

Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all three services this Sunday, 2/17.

I pray that you will have a great Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Jesus.

There was not an update yesterday morning and the reason can be summed up by saying that I took my wife to the airport in order for her to fly home.  That round trip only took me just under four hours when I was expecting it to take a little over two at the most.  Welcome to Guatemala!

The team had a good Monday and Tuesday.  The medical team saw more “sick” folks yesterday than all of the other days combined.  They also had their longest day as they did clinic at the coast.

The building team finished all twenty houses.  There may be a piece of hardware that will have to be put on today but otherwise the houses are completely finished.  John Potts has done a nice job of leading the building teams.

So, one more day of ministry for this team.  Pray for them to have a great Wednesday.  Blessings!