Pastor's Blog

Grady Walker wants to attend our morning service tomorrow (Sunday).  He needs a wheelchair as the rehab company was not able to get one delivered today.  This is an eleventh hour request but does anyone have one, know of one that can be borrowed, et cetera?  If so, please email me at pastor@friendshipfamily.net or call me at 251 865 4912.

Spring forward tonight!

Blessings!

Sleepless night!  My shortcoming has been before me all night!  Confession time!  I attended three quarters of a girls high school soccer game last night and then went even deeper by staying for almost half of the boys game.  It was not good – at all!  Felt unclean.  Stopped and bought some food on the way home and could not even eat it!  Came home and took like three showers trying to get it off me!  No success!

Here was my plan – slip in, sit alone, be seen by no one I knew and then slip out.  God would know but no one else would.  Plan foiled immediately.  Even parked outside of the gate so I could deny being present.  Walked through the gate and there stood Dana Taylor.  Are you serious?  Ok, I am good as Dana will be out of town this Sunday on a business trip so she will not be sharing with others at church about my weak moment.  Headed up the steps to find my seat and a police officer calls out, “hey Bro. Teddy!”  Busted!  He used to play RA basketball at Friendship.  His son plays on the team.  Bless his son.  He said, “why are you here?” to which I replied, “just trying to do a little witnessing!”  Ok, it cannot get any worse.  Wrong!  Sitting alone, no one around me and then this lady is coming back to her seat a few rows below me, sees me and says, “hey, my long time friend!”  NO!  She is originally from Grand Bay and I have known her since her high school days.  Her daughter plays on the team.  Bless her daughter. She says, “why are you here?” to which I replied, “suffering!”  Humiliated I now am just waiting on halftime of the boys game to arrive so I can leave.  How could it get any worse?  A couple seated down to my right gets up to leave and while walking past the section where I am seated they look up, see me and come to sit by me.  “Why are you here?  We did not see you earlier.”  Now it is total humiliation!  Be sure your shortcomings will find you out!

Hey pastor, how about prayer needs, thanking Henry & Sue Wyse for taking Jason to his radiation treatment yesterday, Scott Fontenot’s retirement, time change “spring forward” this Saturday night, regular schedule on our campus this Sunday, opening ceremonies at 3:00PM on Sunday afternoon, “I WAS GLAD” emphasis, “I Am A Church Member” and other stuff?  After the night I had do you really think I can write about all of that?  Folks, I am emotionally distraught!

They say confession is good for the soul.  If that is true, why am I feeling this way?

By the way, the two schools involved in the soccer games last night were Christian schools.  Based on the fans comments, et cetera, one could have a difficult time believing they were followers of Jesus.  Just saying!

Gotta go, seeing a professional counselor first thing this morning!

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

Very good day in our services yesterday.  God is good.  God is faithful!  Thank you to those who attended the services.

No significant changes in those for whom we have been praying.  Just keep praying!

Spring forward this Saturday night!

“I WAS GLAD!”  Join us this Sunday beginning at 9:00AM!

“I Am A Church Member” study begins at 5:00PM Sunday night.

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

Decker Terry is a great friend and a great supporter of our mission efforts in Guatemala.  His wife, Martha, entered Heaven a few years ago.  I do not know if our mission efforts have ever had anyone who prayed as diligently as Martha did – what a prayer warrior.  Decker now has very limited mobility yet he continues to pray for us.  I love and appreciate Decker Terry.  I have prayed for him during the night and ask you to join me in praying.  Is anything new wrong with Decker?  No, I just felt led to pray specifically for him.  His only flaw is that he played football at Ole Miss back in the day!

Sheila Booker has been sharing a prayer need regarding her niece in our Wednesday morning prayer meetings.  Yesterday she wrote to let me know that her niece got a really good report from her latest scan.  They are rejoicing!  Praise the Lord!

Jeanette Bates shared with me yesterday that Sonny is improving.  He stayed home alone yesterday and had a physical therapy session.  Keep praying for Sonny.

I have not talked to Rick Bradley about his Mom’s situation but do ask that you join me in continuing to pray for Mrs. Bradley.

Continue to pray for Grady & Carolyn.

Joey & Bibbi Bosarge, along with four of their children, are flying to Guatemala today in order to help with the teams and to assist Deidra in other ways.  Pray for them as they travel and minister.  I am very grateful to them for doing this.  It is expensive financially and time wise.  Thank you Joey & Bibbi!

I appreciate your continual prayers for Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey.

Regular schedule on our campus today – morning and evening.  “I Was Glad” is in play on Wednesdays too!

Opening ceremonies for our soccer leagues takes place this Sunday, 3/10, beginning at 3:00PM.  Games will be played Monday & Tuesday afternoons (late).  No games this Saturday.

I am glad the political primaries are over!  I did not vote for every race on the ballot but that may be a good thing.  I only voted for one person who won their primary.  However, I did exercise my right to vote and I am thankful for that right.

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

Visited with Grady & Carolyn Walker yesterday morning.  The belief was that he would be discharged later in the day.  Not for sure that happened but he was better.  Honestly, Carolyn is perhaps in worse shape than Grady as she has added. pneumonia to her list of physical problems.  Pray for Grady & Carolyn.

Miss Vinnie missed both services Sunday which is way unusual.  She was battling an unexpected illness.  She called me yesterday afternoon and, in the course of our conversation, she told me that she was feeling much better.  Pray for Miss Vinnie.

Miss Vinnie called to give me an update on Rick Bradley’s mother.  Her surgery took place yesterday and all went well.  She will remain in ICU for a few days.  Pray for Mrs. Bradley and her family.

Major announcement regarding our soccer leagues.  Due to the forecast of fairly significant rainfall this Friday & Saturday, everything is being rescheduled.  The opening ceremony will take place this Sunday, 3/10, beginning at 3:00PM.  League play will take place Monday, 3/11, and Tuesday, 3/12.  Please pass the word.  Pray for this ministry.

I encourage you to go vote today.

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

Rick Bradley’s mother was scheduled to have serious surgery in New Orleans beginning early morning yesterday but, as of around 4:00PM, that surgery had not started.  Pray for Mrs. Bradley and the family.

Grady Walker, as far as I know, remains in the hospital but is no longer in ICU.  I spoke to him Saturday and he was trying to get discharged but not sure if that took place.  Keep praying for Grady and Carolyn.

Really good day in our services yesterday.  We had good attendance in our morning worship service and much better than normal in our evening service.  Praise the Lord!

Probably seventy-five to eighty folks got the “I Am A Church Member” book last night.  Yes, we have more available.  You can stop by the church office during office hours or get one in the services this Wednesday.

I love Sundays but this Sunday, 3/10, will be my least favorite one of the year.  Why?  Time change which means we lose an hour on Saturday night.  It seems that folks never forget to “fall back” but often forget to “spring forward!”  Hopefully, we will reverse course this Sunday!

Our soccer leagues are set to begin this Saturday, 3/9.  The weather forecast is not favorable.  Regardless, pray for this ministry.

Our “I Was Glad” emphasis got off to a good start.  Thank you to those who attended Sunday School and the services.

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

Very short and sweet this morning.  Thank you for understanding.

Bro. Abel visited Grady Walker yesterday.  He remains in ICU but is off the vent so he is improving.  Keep praying.

I “think” everyone else for whom we have been praying is basically the same.  Pray for one another.

I will be leaving this morning driving to Danville, AL in order to attend the celebration of life service for young Beau Clark.  Pray for Beau’s family, Pastor Joe David Bailey and Pastor Spencer Bell.  Let me be a little selfish and ask you to pray for me as I drive on these wet roads to and from Danville.

The Lord gave Andy, Betty & me safe travels yesterday.  We are thankful!  Andy did a very nice job of sharing about his friend, Pat.  Keep praying for Pat’s family.

Lisa’s sister, Kim, will celebrate her birthday tomorrow, 3/2.  How old?  Not saying but she is a bit older than me.  I am good with telling you that I will soon be sixty-four.  Just saying!  Happy birthday, Kim.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Friendship family, bring six dollars cash with you to our evening service.  Just a FYI.

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

Pray for the Kathy Sessions family today as her celebration of life service takes place this morning at 10:00AM from First Baptist.

Andy & Betty Hamil and I will drive to Gadsden today in order to attend the celebration of life service for R.B. “Pat” Patterson.  Pray for Pat’s family.  Pray for traveling mercies for us.

Bro. Abel visited Grady Walker yesterday.  Grady remains in ICU.  Carolyn Walker was discharged from the hospital.  Pray for Carolyn to slow down and get some rest.  Pray for Grady as the medical folks continue to care for him.

Continue to pray for Shawn Grant as she is in the rehab facility.

Keep praying for Jason Husband as he takes his radiation treatment daily.  He is doing well.

Sonny Bates continues to rehab at home.  Keep praying.

Marie Brooks is home.  Thank you for praying.

Pray for the Beau Clark family as they will have the celebration of life service tomorrow morning.

Good day in our services yesterday.  I am thankful.

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

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

The visitation with the Kathy Sessions family will take place at First Baptist Grand Bay from 5:00 until 8:00PM tonight.  The service will be tomorrow at 10:00AM also from First Baptist.

The visitation and service for Pat Patterson will take place tomorrow in Gadsden, Alabama.  I will be going up with Andy & Betty Hamil.  Pat was a delightful gentleman.  Pray for his family during this time.

Kevin & Hailey Clark are going through an absolute nightmare.  Their youngest of three sons, Beau, age four, was taken from this life Monday night.  Kevin & Hailey, along with their sons, are faithful members of Danville Baptist Church.  Kevin is a deacon and Hailey is on the praise team.  They will meet with the funeral directors today to set the arrangements.  I have said it many times and I firmly believe it – the most difficult death with which to deal is the loss of a child regardless of their age.  Pray for Kevin, Hailey and family.  Pray for Pastor Joe David Bailey.

Kenneth Roberts was a couple of years ahead of me in school.  He turned sixty-six last November.  This past Sunday, 2/25, he was grilling out with some friends and got choked on a piece of meat and that proved to be fatal.  The visitation and service take place today.  Pray for his family.

“I WAS GLAD” (Psalm 122:1).

I AM A CHURCH MEMBER!  Coming soon!

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Wednesday with Jesus!

Marie Brooks procedure is over and all is well!  Praise the Lord!

Marie Brooks will undergo a surgical procedure this morning.  Pray all goes well.

Shawn Grant has been moved to a rehab facility for twenty-one days.  Pray that she will do well in therapy.

Grady Walker has been placed back into ICU.  I do not have an update on Carolyn.  Pray for this couple.

A very sad situation in Danville, AL concerning the four year old child.  Pray fervently for the family.

More to come later this morning.