Pastor's Blog

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 20-21

Good morning from somewhere in Texas.  Sorry for the lateness of this entry.  No excuses.

Miss Maxine Rogers remains in the hospital.

Larry Moss did have surgery yesterday.  Still not sure if it was repair or replacement.

Randy Collins was discharged from the hospital.

Regular schedule on Sunday – morning and evening.  Pastor Wes Bates will be preaching in all three services.  Randall Broome will be leading the congregational musical worship.

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 18-19

Friday, September 2 – Ezekiel 20-21
Saturday, September 3 – Ezekiel 22-23
Sunday, September 4 – Ezekiel 24-27
Monday, September 5 – Ezekiel 28-31

Miss Maxine Rogers remains hospitalized and is in good spirits.  She is ready to go home but is also wanting to wait until the doctors are totally convinced that she can be discharged and not have to be brought right back to the hospital as has been the case previously.  They are trying to regulate her medicines which will have to be taken orally.

Randy Collins is basically in the same situation as Miss Maxine.  He is not really sure what the next step will be for him but is waiting on the doctors to make that call.

Larry Moss fell on Tuesday night and broke his hip.  He “thinks” they will do a surgical procedure today but is not sure if that will be to repair the break or to replace the hip.  His son, Craig, and daughter, Jennifer, were on the way to Mobile yesterday.

Carla Kyser received her chemo treatment on Tuesday.  She was able to join us in the service last night.

Becky Sellers continues to follow her regiment regarding her treatments.  Her dad, Bernard Suthoff, continues with his daily radiation treatments.

Holly Lybarger will soon have a scan to see where she stands regarding her malignancy.  She is driving to and from Montgomery on a regular basis for work.  (She is a NP serving as a doctor in an urgent care facility)

The Lord blessed us with some good services yesterday morning/last night.  Our student ministry enjoyed another good night attendance wise but the greatest news was there were two salvations in the middle school Bible study – praise the Lord!  God is doing a “new thing” in our midst and we give Him the glory!

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Pastor Wes Bates will be preaching in all three services.  I encourage all members of the Friendship family who are in town to be present for these services.

Today is another vacation day for me.  Lisa and I will leave this morning heading toward Dallas.  Our plans are to stop in northern Louisiana for the night visiting with some friends and then drive on to Dallas tomorrow morning.  We are meeting Ross & Kathy Genzink and Tom & Shari Compagner in Dallas.  We will also spend some time with Joe David and Lori Bailey.

Looking forward to the college football season beginning tonight.  South Carolina vs Vanderbilt will the headliner of tonight’s games.  The season begins tonight and will be over tomorrow!

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 13 – 15

First, the site that provides me with the daily Bible reading guide only allows you to see the current month.  Therefore, I cannot print Thursday, 9/1, through Sunday, 9/4, until tomorrow.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  The fare for the 7:30PM Bible study is ham, green beans, macaroni & cheese, bread, dessert and drinks.  Do you realize that Lisa has been doing these Wednesday night meals for about sixteen to eighteen years now?  Wow!  She has fed many young adults during that time span and she does an awesome job.  Tonight’s meal will be exceptional!

The adult choir will rehearse tonight from 6:30PM until 7:30PM in the choir room.  Jeanette Bates will be leading our adult choir during this interim period.  She will do an outstanding job!  The choir will not sing this Sunday, 9/4, but will be singing in all three services on Sunday, 9/11.  Yes, all three services!

I will be visiting Miss Maxine Rogers and Randy Collins today.  Have to get by the convalescent home too.

Soccer practice has begun – hooray!  Curly, Larry & Mo tell me the games will begin on 9/10.  I am grateful to each person helping with this ministry.  (Still trying to wrap my mind around Morris Bryant actually driving to and paying to watch a soccer game?  Or is it a match?  Does it really matter?)

FYI – no TNBA tomorrow night, 9/1.  Pass the word.

I spent yesterday morning working on the computer.  When Lisa came home at lunch she was not a happy camper.  Needless to say, I spent the rest of the daylight hours working in the yard.

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 13 – 15

Visited with Miss Maxine Rogers and Randy Collins yesterday.  It “appears” that both of them will remain hospitalized most of this week.  They seem fairly content with their respective situations realizing their recovery is going to take time.

Our prayer time was pretty well attended last night.  I so appreciate those who take the time to come to the auditorium and pray.  By the way, we will not have a prayer time next Monday, 9/5, because of the Labor Day holiday.

Met with a leadership team last night to plan our musical worship for September.  Excellent group and excellent spirit.  Jeanette Bates is the point person during this interim period and will be leading our choir each week as well as planning the Christmas musical.  I have a ton of confidence in Jeanette and her abilities.  I am also very confident in each of the folks who will be stepping up to lead during this interim period.  God knows and we trust Him as He is doing a new thing!

Over the next several weeks, I will be taking some vacation days.  Today is the first of those days.  So, what will I be doing today?  Lisa has a list of things that need to be done in the yard.  I will be mowing, eating weeds, cleaning the garden spot, et cetera.  Obviously, I am available if needed since I am local.

Please note that there will be no TNBA this Thursday night, 9/1.  We plan to resume play on 9/8 and may work in some Sunday night times too now that school is back in session.

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

I failed to mention in my earlier entry today that we will be having GROW tonight beginning at 6:00PM.  Meet in the church office.  Bro. Jerry Hovel coordinates this ministry.

Also, our weekly prayer time takes place tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM in the auditorium.  Use the West side door to enter/exit.

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 9-12

Tuesday, August 30 – Ezekiel 13-15
Wednesday, August 31 – Ezekiel 16-17

We were blessed by the Lord with a good day in our services yesterday.  The highlight of the day was a public profession of faith in our 10:30AM service and then another one in our 6:00PM service.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

The retirement reception for Bro. Kerry Kelley was well attended.  Hilda Gunter and crew did a nice job of coordinating the fellowship. Our deacons did a nice job of setting up and helping clean up.  The church family did well in bringing the food.  Thank you to everyone who attended, helped in any way, et cetera.  As always, to God be the glory.

Miss Maxine Rogers and Randy Collins both remain hospitalized.  I will be visiting them today, Lord willing.

College football really begins this week starting with games on Thursday night.  I am so ready!  BTW, would you pray for my friend, Morris Bryant?  I think he has lost it!  He told me last night that he is going to Jacksonville, FL in the very near future to watch a soccer game!  (What will we not do for our grandchildren!)  Maybe Curly, Larry & Mo will have him serving as a game official for the Friendship soccer league which begins 9/10?

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 5-8

The burial service for Tim Knighten’s stepmother will take place at 3:00PM this afternoon in Quitman, Mississippi.  Special thanks to Randall & Rita Broome for driving over to Pace, FL yesterday afternoon to sing in the celebration of life service and to Tyrone & Jodi Crawley for being there to support Tim and his family.

Today is appreciation day for our Minister of Music/Senior Adult Minister, Bro. Kerry Kelley as this month marks his fourteenth year on our staff. Today will also be Bro. Kerry’s final Sunday with us as a staff member as he is entering retirement.  So, two things will happen today.  First, a love offering will be received in all three services in order for the members of the Friendship family to show their appreciation for Bro. Kerry.  Second, a “farewell/retirement” celebration will take place in the CAB immediately following our 6:00PM worship service tonight.  A card table will be available in the reception.

A huge thank you to each person who came and helped with the work day yesterday.  I did not count but we had probably between twenty five and thirty folks present.  Much was done.  Our B&G team members did an excellent job of leading this effort.  There is more to be done (always) but yesterday was a very good day!

Regular schedule today – morning and evening.

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Go to church!

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 1-4

Work day this morning beginning at 8:00AM.  Our B&G team will lead this effort.  Biscuit breakfast at 7:30AM.

Bro. Benny & bus workers will meet at 8:30AM today.  As always, pray for these folks and anyone is invited to join them as they go into the community inviting folks to ride the bus to church.

The visitation with the Knighten family takes place today from 4:00 – 5:00PM at the Wallace Baptist Church in Milton, Florida.  The celebration of life service for Miss Marilyn takes place at 5:00PM.  Burial service tomorrow afternoon in Quitman, Mississippi.  Keep praying for the Knighten family.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  The “farewell/retirement” reception for Bro. Kerry Kelley takes place immediately following the evening service.  Casseroles and desserts needed.  Contact Hilda Gunter if you need more information.

I am thankful that the Alabama State Senate killed the lottery bill for this session (or so they say it is dead).  I was not pleased when it made its’ way out of the State House of Representatives.

Watched the first half of the first college football game of the year last night.  It had such a late start.  Speaking of football, congratulations to Coach Eric Collier and the Theodore Bobcats on another victory last night.  The Bobcats are now 2 – 0.  Must be the coaching!  Bryant & Faith both suffered losses in their first regular season game as they played each other in a jamboree last week.

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

The Friendship family will host a service at the Mission of Hope tonight beginning at 7:00PM.  Bus leaves the church at 6:15PM.  Everyone invited!