Pastor's Blog

The test on Addison Tillman were negative.  Praise the Lord!  She will still have surgery at some point later this Fall.  Thank you for praying and please continue to do so.

Edna Pearl Morgan had surgery on her ankle and says she is coming home today.  Keep praying for Pearl!

The service for V.R. Broome will take place tomorrow in Richton, MS.  Pray for his family.

Nanette Fontenot will have surgery on Tuesday, July 14.  Pray all goes well.

Jeanette Bates will have surgery on her rotator cuff on July 21.  This will sideline her for six weeks.  Pray Jeanette!

Keep praying for Andy & Betty Hamil.

Miss Annette Williams has a ton on her plate and needs our prayer support.

Keep praying for Carol & Terry Lucky.

Continue to pray for Lisa Brinkman’s mother, Miss Joyce Cherry.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise the Lord!

Regular schedule this Sunday morning, 7/12.  Cake auction Sunday afternoon.

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

First, I needed to do some additional entries yesterday but I am having computer issues.  My laptop has been hacked.  I have had to order a new one but it will not be available until July 28.  So, I am doing the best I can but if I go “silent” then you will know the “why?”  Yes, I do have a red truck but that is not relevant in this situation.

Please note that I will most likely not be sending any emails as I do not want to take the chance of spreading any viruses.  I know nothing about all this stuff but I do know my laptop is not running a fever!

Phil & Edna Pearl Morgan were in Louisiana visiting Barney & Linda.  Hold that thought!

Early (3:30AM) yesterday morning Eddie Brinkman began to have pains and it appeared he was having a heart attack.  Lisa called 911 and then called Phil & Pearl to come to be with them.  She had forgotten they were in LA.  Phil & Pearl jumped up, got ready and were heading to their vehicle in order to come be with Eddie & Lisa.  All was well until Pearl missed the final step as she was leaving which caused her to fall breaking both ankles as she fell.  One was placed in a boot but the other was broken so badly that the surgeon in LA is operating today.  Pray for Edna Pearl and Phil.  Not sure when they will get to come home.

Back to Eddie Brinkman.  He was taken to the hospital and it was determined that he has an upper respiratory infection.  They treated him, gave him medications and sent him home.  Thank the Lord it was not heart related.  Pray for Eddie & Lisa.

As you are praying for Eddie & Lisa, pray for her mother, Miss Joyce Cherry, too.  She has a number of health issues and is with Eddie & Lisa so they can take care of her.  She has a pick line for antibiotics, has to have wound care, et cetera.  Pray for Miss Joyce!

Word came yesterday afternoon that Ann Clark’s and Bobby Broome’s brother, V.R. Broome, passed from this life.  I think VR was eighty-six years old.  Arrangements pending.  Pray for the Broome family.

She “appears” to be fine but Addison Tillman continues to need our prayer support.  To look at her and to be around her you would never know she is having some health issues.  Keep praying for Addison and her parents, Grant & Katie.

Andy Hamil continues to need our prayer support.  Betty too.  So, join me in continuing to pray for them.

Kayla Hatcher is recovering from her surgery of last week.  She cannot drive which the biggest bummer for her.

My sweet cousin, Rachel Crouch, is at home and is better but I could hear it in her voice that she is not feeling one hundred percent.  I could diagnose her problem but I do not speak ill of fellow pastors – LOL!  Pray for Rachel.  She is my favorite cousin.

Our students are preparing for camp the dates of July 20 – 24.  Pray for this to be a great week spiritually.

Spoke to Dr. Rex Looney yesterday and he is doing well.  Praise the Lord!

Regular schedule on our campus today and tonight.  Bro. Abel will be teaching our students and I will be teaching in the auditorium.  Of course, we have others teaching the children.  Pray for us to have a great day in the Lord!  May He be glorified.

Anyone wanting to help with the cake auction this Sunday is asked to attend a meeting in the auditorium tonight, 7/8, immediately following the service.  I hope it will be short and sweet.  Thank you in advance for your help!

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

Our third, and final, watch party for the USMNT was a success.  Lisa says we had twenty-six students in attendance.  We had a few defectors (attended other watch parties, events) which is probably why the USA lost!  Just saying!  Once again, Lisa did a great job of hosting the event.  Stacey & Gayla provided a great meal.  Daphne & Emmy provided the desserts.  Brad served as the life guard which gave me a great peace of mind.  The best part of all of the watch parties was simply seeing our students come together for fellowship, food, laughter and more.  My opinion of soccer has not changed but a good time seemed to be had by all.  The next World Cup comes in four years and I will be either too old to host a watch party or already in Heaven.  So, I survived!

Keep praying for Andy & Betty Hamil.

My cousin, Rachel Crouch, spent Sunday afternoon, Sunday night and most of yesterday in the hospital in Laurel, MS.  She seems to be good although she will have a follow up visit with a doctor.  Rachel is an absolute sweetheart!  Thank you for praying for Rachel!

Anyone wanting to help with this Sunday’s cake auction is asked to attend a meeting tomorrow night immediately following our 6:30PM service.  We will meet in the auditorium.

Bro. Abel will be teaching our youth Bible study tomorrow night beginning at 6:30PM in the youth building.

Our students will be attending camp in Birmingham the week of July 20.  Pray for them.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow – morning and evening.

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

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our worship services yesterday.  We praise Him!  Thank you to those who were faithful to attend either, or both, services.

Andy Hamil sent me a text (just received it this morning) thanking us for the “special” addition to our morning service.  Friendship family and musicians, thank you for being flexible.  Keep praying for Andy & Betty!

Larry & Judy Whitehurst hosted nineteen of our students for a fellowship following our 5:00PM service yesterday.  They had enough food (pizza, Foosackly’s chicken, desserts and drinks) to feed Carter’s Army!  I really appreciate them hosting this fellowship.  Excellent job!

Tonight, Lisa will host another watch party for our students.  Swimming will be available too.  Stacey & Gayla Dyess will provide the food – how nice is that!  Fellowship begins at 6:45PM and ends when the game does.  Honestly, I do not even know who the USMNT is playing.  For Lisa and me, it is all about our students.

I just received word this morning that my cousin, Rachel Crouch, is in the hospital in Laurel, MS.  Possible complications from vertigo?  She will see a cardiologist at some point today.  Rachel is a sweetheart.  Pray for her, please.

Regular schedule this Wednesday – morning and evening!

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

This entry is being written and sent on Saturday night, 7/4, as I do not get online on Sundays.  (Yes, I have been criticized for that but my world does not revolve around the internet.  Sorry, Al.)  I hope you had a great fourth.  Lisa had me doing yard work and cleaning the back porch from 6:00AM until almost 11:00AM.  Then it was grill duty but thank God for Eddie A as he relieved me from the grill.  Family for lunch and then nothing for me from that point forward except reading and preparing for Sunday.

Today marks the 58th birthday of Charles & Ann’s son, Michael.  I listened to the fireworks exploding last night and thought about how much Michael loved fireworks.  Hard to believe that Michael has been deceased for almost forty years.

Two services today – 10:00AM & 5:00PM.  Morning service will be patriotic and based on the Word of God.

Student ministry swimming fellowship immediately following the 5:00PM service at the home of Larry & Judy Whitehurst.  Evening service attendance is a must in order to attend the fellowship.  Larry & Judy will provide the food.  (Rising 6th graders through the class of 2026)

Spoke to Andy Hamil late Saturday afternoon.  He is at total peace with his decision.  He is simply taking life one day at a time.  Is that not how we all should live?  Andy is very grateful for all of the prayer support from the Friendship family and the many others who are praying for him.

Got a question about student camp?  Grant Tillman is your source.  I appreciate Grant.

Cake auction is maxed out.  We will be meeting this week to plan the actual auction.  Want to help?  Contact me personally (best way is via email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net)  Planning on meeting Wednesday night following the service.

Watch party Monday night beginning at 6:45PM.  Our place.  Stacey & Gayla Dyess will provide the food.  I will provide the “why me” questions!  Just saying!  Rising 6th graders through the class of 2026.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Join us in worship!

I am thankful today for the United States of America!  Praying for our leaders and our military.  Praying for a national revival.  May God bless America!  May America bless God!

Keep praying for Andy Hamil.  I assume he arrived home safe and sound yesterday.  Pray for Andy to have the peace from Jesus that passes all understanding!  Pray for Betty!

Two services only on our campus tomorrow – 10:00AM and 5:00PM.

Student (rising sixth graders through class of 2026) ministry swimming fellowship at the home of Larry & Judy Whitehurst immediately following our 5:00PM service tomorrow.  No two piece swimsuits and colored t-shirts required for all swimmers. Please honor the grade requirements and the dress code.  Larry & Judy will provide the food and drinks out of a heart of graciousness!  Attendance in our evening service is a must in order to attend the swim fellowship.

Student (rising sixth graders through class of 2026) ministry soccer watch/swim fellowship at our house on Monday night, 7/6, beginning at 6:45PM.  Due to space limitations we are asking for students only.  We will have someone serving as a life guard.  Looking for our best number yet!  Stacey & Gayla Dyess will provide the food!  It will be good!

Cake quota reached – praise the Lord and thank you to those who are participating.  (“Red truck” is the official excuse for those who are not participating.  LOL!)  I am grateful!  More details coming regarding the actual auction.  I can tell you that Stacey & Gayla will be chefs.  Enough said!

Happy 250th birthday America!  Hope you will have a great fourth with Jesus.

P.S. – It is  “America For Me” by Henry Van Dyke.

We have now reached our goal of having commitments of fifty cakes/pies for the auction.  Plus, we have some other “items” to add to the list.  Thank you to the thirty-six folks who committed to a cake/pie and those who are bringing the other things.  Prayerfully, it will be a very good auction to the glory of God!

Now, we just need folks to attend the auction and bid on the cakes, pies and other things.  Sunday, July 12!  Pass the word!

After much prayer and thought, Andy Hamil has decided to not have surgery.  This is a decision he has made on his own and he is at peace with it.  Simply put, they have tried to put Andy to sleep three times over the past two days and each time there have been major problems.

I ask you to simply join me and many others in praying for Andy.  I owe much to Andy.  He is a dear friend and is the one who asked me to allow him to put my name in the proverbial hat to be the pastor at Friendship.  That was either late August or early September of 1990.  I did and he did.  The rest is history!

Andy will be discharged from the hospital later today.

Our goal for the number of folks committed to provide cakes/pies for the auction on July 12 is fifty.  As of this writing, the number of commitments is forty-eight.  When we reach fifty then we will shut it down.  We do have a cow, corn beef hash, Grand Bay honey, cupcakes, et cetera in addition to the cakes/pies.  So, who will be the final two?  The “official” way is to send me an email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.  I suspect we will have our last two by nightfall.  Thank you to each person helping!  Blessings!

I realize that the students of the Friendship family do not read my blog entries.  That hurts but it is a harsh reality.  So, I need folks who do read the “blob” to pass the word and get it put on the other social media means the young people frequent.

First, there will be a swimming fellowship this Sunday evening, July 5, immediately following our 5:00PM worship service.  This fellowship will take place at the home of Larry & Judy Whitehurst.  Larry & Judy have graciously agreed to host this fellowship and will also be providing the food and drinks.  No two piece swim suits and all swimmers (male & female) need to wear a colored t-shirt at all times.  In order to attend the swimming fellowship you must be present for the entire 5:00PM worship service.  Are adult leaders invited?  I will leave that call to Larry & Judy.  I will attend just because I am, in some regards, the de facto student minister at this time.

Second, there will be a USMNT team watch party at our home on Monday, July 6, beginning at 6:45PM.  Lisa will be the host.  Stacey & Gayla Dyess have graciously volunteered to provide the main meal for this fellowship.  We have been asked if the students can swim and the answer is yes – beginning at 7:00PM and ending when the game ends.  Dress code for swimming is the same as the one at Larry’s & Judy’s.  Here is another catch – we anticipate a good attendance so we are asking that no adults attend unless invited.  (I plan on having a life guard in attendance at our pool.  I am married to an insurance agent!)

The Sunday night and Monday night fellowships are open to our rising sixth graders through the class of 2026.  No one younger, please.  These are the first youth events to which our rising sixth graders have been invited.  Pass the word!

Please help get the word out!  Let’s pack the pool on Sunday night and then have a great crowd Monday night too!