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 –  2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136

Happy Flag Day!  Also, happy birthday to the Army!  (Do not keep up with the birthdays of the military branches but do know that the Army’s falls on Flag Day each year)  Long may our nation’s flag wave!

This entry is coming from the Gulfport airport as I am heading to St. Louis, MO to attend the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Obviously, the fare from GPT was much better than the one out of Mobile which is why I am here.  Lord willing, I will arrive home late tomorrow night.  Prayer emphasis tonight and Pastor Ted Traylor preaching the convention sermon tomorrow.  Those are the two main reasons I am attending this convention.

Our Finance Committee has been meeting and working on a proposed budget for the 2016 – 17 fiscal year which begins August 1, 2016.  The original plan was to present this proposal this Sunday, 6/19, but there was one matter that has made that not feasible.  So, they will present their proposal on Sunday, July 17.

Also, we were set to elect three men to serve as deacons this Sunday, 6/19, for the upcoming church year.  However, we will not need an election as we had three men nominated so they will be serving as deacons beginning August 1.  We will present these men this Sunday evening, 6/19.

Our Trustees have met and will bring a motion to the church family this Sunday evening.  Those details will be in my letter this week.

There is also some news concerning our student ministry.  That will be detailed in my letter as well.

Frontlines Mobile banquet on Friday evening, June 24, beginning at 6:30PM in our fellowship hall.  Tickets are fifteen dollars per adult and six dollars per child.  See Elizabeth Westbrook or Ethan Nelson to purchase tickets.

The Cavs still have a chance!  Forty one apiece for LeBron & Kyrie – wow!  Do you think the Warriors missed Draymond?

I should be able to blog tomorrow.  I am still holding some things from last week that I did not get to blog mainly because of a malfunction of the website one day.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday 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 – 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5
Tuesday, June 14 – 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136
Wednesday, June 15 – Psalms 134; 146-150
Thursday, June 16 – 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8
Friday, June 17 – Proverbs 25-26
Saturday, June 18 – Proverbs 27-29
Sunday, June 19 – Ecclesiastes 1-6

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Myrtle and crew did a nice job of sharing about our just completed VBS in the evening service.  There was a good spirit in all of our services.  God is good.  God is faithful.  We give Him the praise!

Carla K is on vacation and that is a good thing.  I hope she is feeling well.  Becky S was in our 10:30AM service yesterday and looked good although I did not get to speak to her personally.

Hilda Gunter and Carol Lucky are recovering at home from their respective procedures/hospitalizations.  Miss Vinnie Brewer has been battling a sickness and is certainly deserving of our prayer support as she is so very faithful to pray for others.

Greg Boutwell was waiting on word from the doctor as to whether or not they were going to hospitalize him.

Miss Helen Ruth Brinkman has been suffering from some type mini strokes in recent days.  Of course, she lives in Pensacola, FL with her son and his wife.

Frontlines Mobile (Jonny Gaston) will be hosting a missions banquet in our fellowship hall on Friday, June 24, beginning at 6:30PM.  Tickets are fifteen dollars for adults and six dollars for children.  I know for a fact that forty six tickets were purchased yesterday.  Six of those by folks who cannot attend but wanted to invest in this ministry and the other forty by someone who felt impressed by the Lord to simply purchase that many and paid Jonny on the spot – amen!  Interested in purchasing a ticket?  Contact Elizabeth Westbrook or Ethan Nelson.

Our SNBA went well last night even without the ones who did not show up out of fear.  Those would include deacon Vice, PT and Johnny Five.  We welcomed two or three new players last night and one them is around six feet eight inches or so.  I do not know his exact height but I do know he is a tall drink of water.

Lord willing, I leave early in the morning to attend the annual meeting of the SBC in St. Louis.  I am scheduled to return late Wednesday night.  I am going because of a prayer emphasis, missions emphasis and to hear Ted Traylor preach the convention sermon.

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 – 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3

I failed to mention in yesterday’s entry about Zach Huhn traveling to Washington even though I was praying for him.  He and I communicated electronically and he arrived safe and sound.  I have the mailing address of where he is staying if anyone wants to mail him a card.  I need to get his permission of that of his helicopter mom in order to post it.  Want it privately?  Contact me personally.  Pray for Zach.

Carla Kyser sent me an update yesterday.  The doctor thinks she has found the reason for Carla’s low blood pressure and has taken steps to correct that problem.  As a matter of fact, she cleared Carla to travel for a vacation.  Hooray!  I am very happy for Carla.  Not sure where she is traveling to but rumor has it that it is Coden Beach.  Heard that Cobb Bosarge got them a good deal on lodging?  Anyway, if any young lady deserves good news, it is Carla!  She is a sweetheart but please do not tell her that I said so!

Yancey Hall had a surgical procedure done yesterday to rid his body do some kidney stones.  It was an outpatient surgery.  He had a very positive outlook and trusts the Lord big time.

Carol Lucky may be discharged from the hospital today.  She does not have a blood clot but has afib instead.  Her sister, Diane, was discharged yesterday.

Hilda Gunter is doing great and was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Our VBS averaged two hundred and three in attendance.  Best news is we had thirteen salvation decisions – praise the Lord!

Can you believe it?  I wrote this long entry and over half of it did not save for some reason.  Oh well, I will try to redo it at some point.  Had info about Rusty’s mowing, Soy’s adventures, Katie Tillman and Nanette Fontenot.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and VBS family night tomorrow afternoon beginning at 5:00PM.

I pray that you will have a great Saturday 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 – Proverbs 22-24

Carol Lucky was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon.  They suspect she could have a blood clot and wanted to observe her for at least over night.  (Personally, I think she was just jealous of her sister, Diane, who is also in the hospital?)  Pray for Carol.

Yancey Hall will have a surgical procedure today to hopefully get rid of some kidney stones.  I think he will be able to come home if all goes well.

Hilda Gunter had a pace maker implanted yesterday and the surgeon said all went well.  He was thinking that she would be discharged today if things go as planned.

Today is the final day of our 2016 VBS.  I briefly spoke to Myrtle yesterday afternoon but failed to ask her about the attendance.  Pray for our VBS to finish strong today.  Our VBS family night will take place this Sunday, 6/12, beginning at 5:00PM (note the time) in the auditorium.

“Do you believe in miracles?”  That was the question asked by Al Michaels in 1980 during a pretty amazing hockey game.  I ask the same question of you today.  It is “possible” that I will fully believe at some point this afternoon.  Why?  Rusty has said that he plans to get on a mower and help me cut grass today.  Folks, Rusty has been living on this hill for about seven years now and each time I have started a mower he has either closed the blinds in his house or gotten in one of his cars (he only has three) and left.  So, if you see an ambulance going down Potter Tract Road later today that will be them coming to get me as I will pass out in disbelief!

Speaking of Rusty, he misses Soy!  He came over to the house on Wednesday afternoon and just talked (imagine a Suthoff talking) for about an hour.  Then yesterday his dad, Bernard, who is doing some work for Charles & Ann, came over and spent about an hour just talking.  Folks, I am not running a daycare center here!  Has Rusty never heard of FaceTime?  Doesn’t Bernard have blueberries to pick or something?  Wow!

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 – Proverbs 19-21

Hilda Gunter was scheduled to have a surgical procedure done yesterday but that was cancelled.  So, today she will receive a pacemaker and they will wait until July to do the other procedure.  Pray for all to go well.

Our third day of VBS went well and our attendance was 220.  Not sure of the enrollment total.  Myrtle tells me that there have been zero problems.  Today is evangelism day and is a day for us to pray specifically for seeds to be sown and lives to be changed.

Did it feel as weird to you as it did to me?  Not having church services last night.  Actually, our Finance Committee met for about two and one half hours so I was at the church anyway.  However, it was different.

Soy, Deidra, the girls and Dana arrived safe and sound to GRACE Mountain yesterday afternoon.  I appreciate Tico Vargas meeting them at the airport and helping get their belongings to El Tejar.  I sure miss Dana, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey.  It just “feels” different knowing they are not next door or, in Dana’s case, in her room.

BTW, Kareem Abdul Jabaar was on the flight from Mobile to Atlanta with them yesterday morning.  Dana did not know who he was but did know he used to play in the NBA.  She should have invited him to our SNBA but he would probably have been like Johnny Five and skipped out because of fear!

Did I mention that I think the Cavs are going to win it all?  Just saying!  (Again, I hope that I am wrong!)

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 –  Proverbs 16-18

First, there are no services, classes, activities today or tonight outside of our Vacation Bible School.  Very unusual for us but we are going to give it a look this year and then go from there.  I hope our VBS workers can catch their breath and finish strong the last two days.

Hilda Gunter was taken by ambulance to the hospital yesterday and admitted.  She spent a good deal of time in the emergency room before finally getting in a room.  I will visit her this morning.

No real changes in any of the others for whom we have been praying.  Just keep praying.

Our second day of VBS saw 210 in attendance.  I was in for the first hour or so and things seemed to be running smoothly.  I had the privilege of driving one of the buses which was a good thing.  Jason and I make a good team!

I met with some of our students last night.  It was a productive hour.  Good input.  Good insights.  Honest.  Those present are the core of our student ministry.  I appreciate their willingness to come meet with me.

Heard from Lisa that there were five salvation decisions last night at McKemie Place.  Randall & Rita Broome led that service.  Amen and praise the Lord!

Soy, Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney, Audrey and Dana leave this morning heading to Guatemala.  Soy, Deidra and the girls will be there until July 27 while Dana will come home on June 30.  Pray for Soy & Deidra as they minister alongside GRACE Ministries and in other ways.  Going to miss those girls coming over every day!

FYI, the church office will close at noon tomorrow since it will be open on Friday morning for VBS.

Congratulations to the Auburn softball team for a dramatic win last night.  I hope they win it all tonight as I am a SEC homer!

Go with the Cavs in tonight’s game.  Sure thing!

BTW, the chickens have moved into the condo.  Soy & Rusty put the finishing touches on it yesterday afternoon and Logan made the delivery.  I am guessing it remained critter proof through the night?

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 – Proverbs 13-15

First things first – I was in a meeting last night when I received a call saying Lisa had been hurt in an accident involving the pressure cooker.  Long story short – the pressure cooker spewed some water on the floor and Lisa slipped in it causing her to hurt her knee.  She “may” go today (Lynne Watson help me here) to have it checked but she rested well last night.  Of course, it helps when you have an NP daughter who can effectively knock her out with meds – LOL!   Lisa is walking around like Festus.  (You have to be older to understand that!)

Becky Sellers did well in receiving her chemo yesterday.

Carla Kyser was also able to receive a chemo treatment yesterday.  She is still having low blood pressure issues but this was a positive step for her yesterday.

Tina Wilkinson was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  She had kidney stones and still has gall stones.  They will address what to do with those at a later point.

Miss Mary Owens was moved to a rehab center yesterday.

Our first day of VBS went well.  I was not present but did talk to Myrtle afterwards.  We had two hundred in attendance which is good.  First Baptist Grand Bay is also in VBS this week so we are somewhat splitting the children.  First United Methodist Grand Bay will begin their VBS tomorrow.  Pray for VBS.

Jeff Holifield, Rhett Butler & Scott Older have been working on the area that will become our soccer field.  They killed the grass big time!  Yesterday, Scott came and plowed that area so it is now ready for the heavy equipment work.  I appreciate these guys handling this matter as Larry, Curly & Mo do not have tractors!

I am now the proud owner of five chickens thanks to Maria Wainwright!  I actually do not have them in my possession yet as they are staying at Hotel Maria.  Soy readied the pen yesterday afternoon so maybe we will get them today.  They are Rhode Island Reds.  Thanks for Maria and Soy for their help!

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

We will be having our prayer time in the auditorium tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  Please enter/exit through the West side door.  A call for our leaders to lead in this most important part of our church life.  Come and go.  Come and stay.  Just pray!

Our oldest daughter, Deidra, is celebrating a birthday today.  How old?  Cannot say!  However, I am getting really old.  I hope Deidra has a great day!  Happy birthday, Deidra!

Today’s Bible reading – Proverbs 10-12

Tuesday, June 7 – Proverbs 13-15
Wednesday, June 8 – Proverbs 16-18
Thursday, June 9 – Proverbs 19-21
Friday, June 10 – Proverbs 22-24
Saturday, June 11 – 1 Kings 5-6; 2 Chronicles 2-3
Sunday, June 12 – 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4

We were blessed with a really nice day in our services yesterday.  What a blessing to see six folks follow the Lord in believers’ baptism.  It was a good thing to baptize at least one in all three of our services.  Soy did a nice job of sharing about SLAM in the evening service too.  Thank you to those who gave to the love offering.  I do not know the exact total yet but it was a very nice offering.

VBS, VBS, VBS!  Our 2016 VBS begins this morning at 9:00AM and continues each day through Friday from 9:00 – noon.  Pray for our VBS director, Myrtle Bowden, and our entire VBS team – workers and children.

Tina Wilkinson is in the hospital due to kidney stones.  I am thinking she may be discharged today.

What a joy to see Becky Sellers in our second service yesterday.  She looks good and has such a positive outlook.

Carla Kyser continues to have problems with her blood pressure going way too low at times.  When that happens she passes out.  Pray for the medicines to help keep her blood pressure up.

I do not have an update on Sharon Jardee but will get one today.

Rick Bradley’s aunt is not doing well.  Pray for her and the family.

Folks, keep believing in the Cavs!  The 2 – 0 hole is all part of the story.  Watch how things change come this Wednesday night!

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