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 –  Psalms 81; 88; 92-93

Miss Esther Beritech remains hospitalized.  Otherwise, we are presently hospital free as it relates to the members of the Friendship family.

Miss Kathleen Henderson will be having a surgical procedure done today.  Not sure if this will cause her to be hospitalized or will be done as an outpatient.  Regardless, pray for her.

Reb shared in yesterday morning’s service that their daughter, Holly, has finished her radiation treatments and is continuing her chemo treatments every third week.

Good day in our services yesterday/last night.  We were down a bit in the college portion of our 7:30PM Bible study and those absent missed an absolute feast prepared by Lisa.  It included homemade banana pudding.  Really nice job by Lisa!

Senior adult day at Friendship this Sunday, 5/1, in our 10:30AM service.  Meal afterwards for all of our seniors (65 years of age and up) in a local restaurant.  Seniors, come join us.

Parent/child dedication service on Sunday, 5/8, in our 10:30AM service.  Please sign up for this service no later than Wednesday, 5/4.

Well, the votes have been tallied and it appears that Dana Taylor wins the award for having the most pairs of shoes among the female membership of the Friendship family.  How many pairs?  Not going there!  Dana Faucett definitely wins the award for having the fewest pairs of shoes!  What does all of this mean?  Relates to the message in the auditorium yesterday morning and last night.

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 –   1 Chronicles 6

Miss Jo Nell Barnes heart cath revealed no problems that cannot be handled by medication.  They will continue to monitor her to find out if other problems exist.  She was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  (I am not going to mention that I sent Peggy a text asking for an update and she never replied!  I was expecting that since she did not answer my phone call early yesterday morning!  Just saying!)

Miss Esther Beritech is in the hospital.  This is because of some problems from an earlier surgery.

I do not really have any “new” updates on those folks battling cancer.  Claire Belle’s mother will be staying in Atlanta a couple more days which is longer than originally expected.  I do know we need to keep praying for all of these folks.

Miss Kathleen Henderson is scheduled to have a surgical procedure tomorrow.

The doctors have determined that Charles Suthoff does not need surgery.  That is the good news.  The not so news is that they feel one of his medications is causing his problem but he cannot be taken off that particular medication.  So, we need to pray for the Lord to touch him.

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for both services and will then be facilitating one of the 7:30PM Bible studies.  My wife tells me that the menu will be fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, dessert and drinks.  (Possible macaroni & cheese too)  I can promise you that it will be done right since Lisa is doing it.

Senior adult day this Sunday, May 1, during our 10:30AM service.  I am asking all senior adults to attend that service.  A meal will be provided afterwards in a local (Wade, MS) restaurant.

Our parent/child dedication service will take place on May 8 during the 10:30AM service only.  Parents participating need to call the church office no later than next Wednesday, May 4.

If we had to choose a “volunteer” of the week right now, Junior Bosarge would win hands down!  He spent about six or seven hours on his mower working on the back forty yesterday.  His shirt was white when he started but with the wind and dust that was not the case when he finished!   Area he mowed looks really good.  Thanks Junior!  I so appreciate all of the folks who volunteer at the church and we would have many “winners” every week if we gave out awards!

By the way, our “dynamite” trio has asked that the area they will be working on this Saturday not be mowed/bush hogged.  I think they want to see the tall grass go upward of something.

Terry & Carol Lucky provided me with another instrumental cd for our prayer time.  We have equipped this one with a built in tracking device!  Plus, thanks to today’s technology, if you physically touch it then it automatically records your finger prints and sends them to a special data base we have established.  (Amazing what can be done today!)  So, we are able to follow the cd plus have a record of each person who touches it!  Just do not say you were not warned!  (We have retired FBI folks in the Friendship family!)

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 –   Psalms 73; 77-78

Miss Jo Nell Barnes was admitted to the hospital last night and will have a heart cath this morning.  Pray for her.

I visited with Tommy’s mother yesterday morning and she was ready to go home.  She got her wish yesterday afternoon as the doctor discharged her.  Tommy shared that information with me during our prayer time last night.

Calvin Crist (Courtney’s dad) is “better” and should go home today if he remained fever free during the night.  He has been a really sick man.

Of the ones I was able to see at the convalescent home yesterday, everyone was doing well.  I missed a couple for various reasons and may try to catch them later this week.

Holly should be continuing her regiment of treatments as should Carla.  Got a good word on Lisa Thompson’s condition.  Have not gotten an update on Courtney Hubbard.  Jimmy Moates is waiting for a scan in July or so.

We had a fairly good number show up for our prayer time last night.  Thank you to those who came.  My thinking is that we will continue through May 23 and then come back in August.  We make a definite decision soon.

How about some good news from the feeding center in Guatemala?  Maylin Sarazusa (2nd grade) and Yeily Torres (Kindergarten) were the best students of the quarter in the entire town of El Tejar (all schools).  This is speaking of academics.  They were also chosen as the best behaved students!  Kenny & Nancy Lingle sponsor Maylin and Justin & Amber Joyner sponsor Yeily!  Congratulations to these two young girls!  Lazaro and team are doing a nice job of helping our seventy five children academically!  Praise the Lord!

Jeff Holified, Rhett Butler and Scott Older are going to handle getting rid of the cogon grass on the proposed soccer field.  They have a plan!  Who would have ever thought about dynamite?

We have hit a snag in securing a company to replace the CAB roof in a timely manner.  Les is working on it.  We just need to find the Lord’s will and His timing.

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 Chronicles 3-5

Tuesday, April 26 – Psalms 73; 77-78
Wednesday, April 27 – 1 Chronicles 6
Thursday, April 28 – Psalms 81; 88; 92-93
Friday, April 29 – 1 Chronicles 7-10
Saturday, April 30 – Psalms 102-104

The source I use for our daily Bible reading assignments will not allow me to access future dates until we are in the actual month.  Therefore, I will post Sunday’s reading on Sunday, May 1.

Tommy ‘s mother, Miss Willa Dean Johnson, remains in the hospital.  Same is true for Courtney Cavin’s father, Calvin Crist.  I will be visiting both of them first thing this morning.

Claire Belle and her mother have traveled back to Atlanta.  A course of action will be determined but I am not sure if it will be started on this trip or not.  Pray for Claire’s mother.

Miss Sarah Thornton has a brother who is not doing well at all physically.

Miss Vinnie Brewer has a brother who will be having a heart cath today.

Good day in our services yesterday.  The Lord blessed.  Our evening service was special and I appreciate those who responded to the call to say “thank you” and/or to sign up to work in our Vacation Bible School this year.  Good stuff!

Les Hacker will be coordinating with the companies that have submitted bids to put a new roof on the CAB.  He has been given the authority to select a company and proceed with this project.  Ideally, we would love to have it finished before our VBS begins on June 6. Pray that all goes well.

Prayer time tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM in the auditorium.  Please enter/exit using the West side door.  Lord willing, I should be there for the entire time.  Let’s have a good number of folks praying tonight.

GriefShare tonight from 6:00 – 8:00PM.

GROW visitation from 6:30PM until tonight.

We could use some guys to bring their tractors & bush hogs to mow the front side of the back forty this week.  Any takers?

Dr. Rex, what is the word regarding August?

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 –  Psalms 43-45; 49; 84-85; 87

As our ten readers have noticed, I have not been real faithful to blog on Saturdays in recent weeks.  What is up with that?  Well, I am normally off on Fridays and do not make hospital rounds.  Unless something out of the ordinary happens, I have nothing to report.  I like it like that.  This morning it was just Titus & me and I slept in so he would do likewise.  It was 6:30 or so when I got out of the bed and the day is half spent by that time so I figured there was no need to blog.  What does the future hold for Saturdays and this blog?  Week by week.

Courtney’s dad, Calvin Crist, had more tests Friday.  They are now back to thinking it is medicine related.  Not sure what the next step is but they are steadily eliminating things one by one.  Calvin told me earlier this week that he thought it was his medicines from times gone by.

The Friendship soccer league played late yesterday afternoon instead of their usual morning time due to a scheduling conflict.  As far as I know, it all went well.  I have not spoken to Curly, Larry or Moe but Deidra seemed to think it was all good.

We are on a regular schedule today – morning and evening.  Hopefully, the folks who have missed the past two Sundays will join us.

My Friday was spent on the back side of a weed eater and on a mower.  That was true from around 7:00AM until about 2:30PM.  Soy gave me an assist in the morning hours.  Just need to weed eat around some trees and part of the fence and we are all set.  Of course, then it will be time to start over – LOL!

Yesterday, I played in the garden in an effort to make it a Santa Claus garden!  Took several hours to hoe and then plow it.  Got it all done and then turned the sprinklers on it.  God has richly blessed it up to this point.  I am thankful.  Still need to get some plants in the ground and to plant more corn.  In time.  BTW, Lisa graciously offered to help me hoe yesterday but I graciously declined her offer.

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 –  Psalms 6; 8-10; 14; 16; 19; 21

Maxine Dupont was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  The doctor told her that she did amazingly well.  She is very thankful for all of the prayer support.

It appears that the doctors are making some headway with Calvin Crist’s (Courtney Cavin’s dad) diagnosis.  They are still stumped by his continued fever but believe the cause of his problems may relate to previous medications.  More tests today.

Miss Willa Dean Johnson is better but still pretty sick.  As of yesterday morning, they still had not begun talking about being discharged.

I need to back up and give a few words of thanks!  Sammy Bowden secured some weed killer to be used on the back forty and Steve Morris has applied it to all of the areas needed.  Danny Lewis took care of some items we missed on our most recent work day.  I am very grateful to these men for their willingness and their help!

Speaking of the back forty, we could use some mowers up on the front part.  So, if you are just passing the church on your mower and take a notion. . . .   Also, Jeff Holifield is supposed to meet with a gentleman today to discuss getting rid of the cogon grass where Curly, Larry & Moe plan to have a soccer field.  We shall see.

Mission of Hope service in our auditorium tonight at 7:00PM.  Everyone invited.

Meal after church is Sunday, 4/24.  Pre-order only.  Contact Jim Chinners to place an order.

“Roses for mama” will be available to order this Sunday, 4/24, and this Sunday only.  The actual roses will be available in our services on Sunday, May 8, which is Mother’s Day.

Lord willing, today will be a weed eating and mowing day for me so that tomorrow can be dedicated to the garden.  Going to have to get out the watering system for the garden.  The Lord blessed and it seems that every seed that was planted has produced a plant.  God is good!

Nanette F is mad because I did not send her an iMessage yesterday.  She is not OCD like TJ Vice but she is OOC (out of control).  I wonder if they make medicine for folks like her?  (Actually, TJ tells me it is technically CDO as the letters need to be in the correct order – wow!)

It is going to be a beautiful day weather wise.  Enjoy it!  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 –  2 Samuel 1-4

Maxine Dupont’s surgery went well.  The doctors removed three lymph nodes and all three came back negative.  Praise the Lord!  As far as I know, Maxine should be discharged today.  I will visit her first thing this morning.

Miss Willa Dean Johnson is improving daily.  She is very grateful for the prayer support.

Calvin Crist cannot get rid of the elevated temperature.  They did not get any test results back yesterday.  Maybe today.

Carla Kyser has had two good days of meeting with her doctors.  The oncologist said all was good and she received another chemo treatment on Tuesday.  Yesterday, the radiation oncologist told her that he did not need to see her again unless there was a problem.  She is a happy camper!

We had a good attendance in our services yesterday morning and last night.  I am grateful for folks who are faithful.

When is the last time we extended an invitation in a Wednesday night service (revival services excluded)?  We did last night and had maybe ten folks in the altar and one profession of faith.  Wow, is God good or what?  We give him the glory!

Today, 4/21, is the last day to order a meal for this Sunday, 4/24.  Call the church office between 8:00AM – noon  or 1:00 – 5:00PM to place an order.  All proceeds will help some of our students make a mission trip this Summer.

Mission of Hope service tomorrow night, 4/22, beginning at 7:00PM in our auditorium.  Everyone invited.  Burgers and dogs will be the fare.  You are asked to bring beans, potato salad, et cetera to go with the burgers/dogs.  You can bring food to the fellowship hall even if you can stay for the service.  Thank you in advance for ministering.

This Sunday, 4/24, is the only opportunity to order “a rose for mama” to be received on Mother’s Day during our morning services.  Please do not forget and please pass the word.

“Potluck with the pastor” on Wednesday, May 4, immediately following the morning service.  It will be a fish fry.  Looking for seventy five folks to join us that day!

Katelyn Brinkman Howard Tillman has now missed thirty seven consecutive Wednesday services!  We are not counting.  Just saying!

Believe it or not, Nanette Fontenot e-mailed me her cell phone number!  Where did that come from?  I have no idea!  Told me to call or text any time.  I was very happy not having her cell number!  Scott needs to get her under control!

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

Today’s Bible reading –  Psalms 121; 123-125; 128-130

Miss Maxine Dupont will have surgery first thing this morning.  As I stated yesterday, I plan on being there with her and the family either until the surgery is complete or I have to leave in order to make it to our morning service.  Pray that all goes well.

Tommy Johnson’s mother was doing better when I visited with her yesterday.  I suspect she will be in the hospital for a few days.

Courtney Cavin’s dad, Calvin Crist, is in the hospital.  He was in but was discharged on Monday before being readmitted yesterday.  Calvin’s father is a former pastor of Friendship.  He has since entered Heaven but Mrs. Crist is still living.  The doctors are seemingly stumped as to what is causing Calvin’s problems.  He and I go way back as we used to play ball against one another.  I think my punishment for beating him so often is that I now have to be Courtney’s pastor – just saying!  LOL!

Brittney & Ian are doing fine.  Brittney is bouncing off the walls to be discharged.  That will happen this morning.

Regular schedule this morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be preaching/teaching at 10:00AM, 6:30PM and then again at 7:30PM.  All classes, Bible studies, choir practices, et cetera as normal.

I am pretty upset about tonight’s menu for the 7:30PM Bible study.  I had posted last week that the menu would be sloppy joes.  I had actually bought everything except the buns before I left for Guatemala.  Somehow, Rusty convinced Lisa to have hot dogs instead!  What is up with that?  So, tonight’s menu is sloppy joes for everyone except Rusty!  Amazing!

Unbelievable!  It happened again!  I was in Guatemala on Monday night, 4/11.  Obviously, I was not at our prayer time but I did leave the instrumental compact disc by Diane Enriquez.  That cd has just vanished!  No one knows a thing about it!  This has become one of life’s great mysteries!  We had a nice group at our prayer time this past Monday night, 4/18, and I am sure they noticed a different instrumental compact disc was being used.  I am considering hiring Tony T as security for the nights I am not at the prayer time – LOL!

It appears that everything I planted in the garden Saturday before last has come up.  I checked it this past Saturday and nothing had come up.  Checked it on Monday afternoon and it was looking good.  Have not checked it since then but will work it this weekend.  I do not think there are going to be any skips.  Could be wrong.  I still have to plant more corn and also some plants.  No need to plant tomatoes as John Milton has 120 plants and about 100 pepper plants.  He is not at home during the day – just saying!

FYI – I have scheduled seven vacation days in May over two weeks.  Family time.  One trip is a total surprise (location wise) to Dana & Gina.  Will not miss any Sundays.  Our June, July and August are full so it is now or never!

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 –  1 Samuel 28-31; Psalm 18

Tommy Johnson’s mother (Coley’s grandmother) has been admitted to the hospital as she is battling pneumonia again.  This seems to be a couple of times annually.  Pray for her.

Carla Kyser has an appointment with her oncologist today and then one with her radiation oncologist on Wednesday.  She is in hopes of continuing her chemo treatments.

I will check on Brittney and Ian today.  Ethan sent me a message last night saying that all is well.  He thinks they will be discharged tomorrow although Brittney is asking for today!

Maxine Dupont will be having surgery early in the morning.  Lord willing, I will be with her until I have to leave to come to the early service.  Maxine is one of the finest ladies I have ever known!

Of the folks I was able to see in the convalescent home, all seemed to be doing ok.  I was especially pleased at the progress being made by Miss Jimmie Hall.  Obviously, I did not see her last week due to being out of town and there has been a nice improvement since I last saw her.  Keep praying.

This Sunday, 4/24, will be your opportunity to purchase a rose for “mother” to be given on Mother’s Day.  We have to place our order in advance so this Sunday will be your one, and only, opportunity to make this purchase.  Please take note of this and pass the word.

Today is supposed to be a beautiful day weather wise.  I hope you are able to get outside at some point and enjoy it.

Remember, regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  Let’s get back into the routine of being involved in the services.  What if other followers of Jesus followed your example?

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

Today, at 3:53PM, Ethan & Brittney Nelson welcomed their third son into their family.  Ian Daniel Nelson checked in weighing 8 pound and 3 ounces and is 22 inches long.  Big brothers, Eli & Cade, are excited about this new addition to their family too!  Congratulations to the entire Nelson family!