Pastor's Blog

Yes, this entry is late.  Katie Tillman asked me at last night’s fellowship if she could write today’s entry.  I agreed.  So, you can imagine my surprise when I checked a few minutes ago to see that she did not follow through.  My apologies.  You live and learn!  I will own this and not pass the buck!  It is on me!

We were blessed with a good day in our service yesterday morning.  We saw thirteen or so public decisions.  Then the fellowship was awesome.  My guess would be an attendance of around two hundred (+/-).  The weather was great!  Our deacons did a fantastic job of hosting the fellowship.  Thank you, brothers!  The church family brought sufficient sides and desserts.  Did you get any of Rebecca’s stuffed brownies?  Who would have ever thought crab meat in a brownie would be tasty?  Rebecca was kind enough to send the leftovers home with me.  How nice is that!

However, the absolute highlight of the fellowship was seeing twenty-five (25) folks follow Jesus in believer’s baptism.  I was thrilled to see families being baptized together.  Thank you, Jesus for an amazing fellowship!

Heidi’s brother, Chip, remains at the top of my prayer list.  Folks, pray for Chip and his family during these days.

Joey & Bibbi’s son, Wyatt, is in the hospital.  Most likely his problem goes back to a tick bite from a couple of weeks ago.  Pray for Wyatt.

Thomas Graham passed from this life last week.  Pray for Jean and the family.  There will be no public service.

Miss Dottie Clark in Guatemala is not doing well.  It is possible the doctor will give an update today.  Pray for Miss Dottie and Dr. Mike, please.

Obviously, we all have our eyes on the almost certain to be a hurricane that will most likely enter the Gulf.  Folks, we will just take it one day at a time.  Pray now for those who will be in the path of this storm.

Regular schedule on our campus this Wednesday – morning and evening.

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

Happy tenth birthday to our granddaughter, Audrey!  I know she will have a good day as she will make sure of that herself.  She will organize her own party!  We love Audrey.  I am glad that Lisa and Curtis & Myrna (paternal grandparents) are there with Audrey on this special day.  Soy & Deidra’s girls are now 10, 11 & 12 – wow!

Sunday School begins at 9:00AM.

Worship service begins at 10:00AM.

Church fellowship begins at 4:00PM at Presley’s Outing.

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

Flag football play begins at 8:00AM today.  Pray for this ministry.

By the way, hungry?  The concession stand will be open from 8:00AM until 11:00AM and they have great prices on their burger baskets.  So, come support out student ministry even if you do not want to attend any of the games.

Congratulations to the Bryant varsity football team as they won last night on a walk off play!  You can watch in on al.com.  How about USA Thursday night?  Pretty impressive!  Go Jags!

Our annual church fellowship at Presley’s Outing takes place tomorrow beginning at 4:00PM.  Baptismal service begins around 4:30PM.  Food will be served beginning around 5:00PM.  Church is providing burgers, dogs and drinks.  You bring the rest.

Yesterday was a marathon day for me as I left at 3:00AM to drive to Hartselle, Alabama in order to attend the celebration of life service for Tommy McCaghren.  Tommy is the father of our niece, Tracie, who is married to Josh Turrentine.  Pastor Jack Bailey did a nice job of sharing the Word.  Tracie spoke and did well too.

I had the privilege of stopping by and visiting with Decker Terry in Montgomery.  Decker is always such a joy to be around.  He is always positive even though he is homebound.  I thank God for bringing Decker Terry into our life and for his support of GRACE Ministries for many years.  Decker is faithful!

Mama is presently battling an UTI.  I was blessed to visit with her for while even though she was not feeling well and was in the bed.  Times I do not take for granted!

So, when I walked in the door at our house just before 8:00PM, I was a little tired.  Just saying!

Sunday School begins at 9:00AM tomorrow.  Morning worship begins at 10:00AM.  Come join us!

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

The Lord blessed us with a good Wednesday.  God is faithful!

Bill Kendrick had a nephew, Jeffrey Kendrick, very unexpectedly pass from this life on Monday, 9/16.  Jeffrey was only forty-five years old.  The family will have a private service this Saturday.  Pray for the Kendrick family during this most difficult time.

Continue to pray for Heidi’s brother, Chip.  Also, keep praying for Carol Lucky.

Miss Dottie Clark is doing better and making improvements almost daily.   Keep praying for Miss Dottie & Dr. Mike Clark in Guatemala.

Flag football league play resumes this Saturday morning beginning at 8:00AM.  Pray for this ministry under the leadership of Bro. Abel.

Regular schedule on our campus Sunday morning.  Fellowship at Presley’s Outing Sunday beginning at 4:00PM.

Special thanks for Clinton Stringfellow for the painting he has done the past two days in the senior adult ladies Sunday School room.  Clinton is a fine gentleman and I appreciate his spirit!

Yes, Lisa arrived safe and sound on GRACE Mountain yesterday afternoon.  That is the good news!  The not so good news is that she will be back in just eleven days!  Just saying!

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

Regular schedule on our campus this morning at 10:00AM and then again tonight at 6:30PM.  Pray for those services!

Carol Lucky has been discharged from the hospital.  Keep praying for Carol as she goes through this recovery time and has her dialysis treatment three times a week.

Continue to pray for Heidi’s brother, Chip.

Lisa leaves this morning heading to spend almost two weeks in Guatemala with Deidra and the girls.  Pray for traveling mercies.

Annual church wide fellowship this Sunday, 9/22, at Presley’s Outing beginning at 4:00PM.  Baptismal service at 4:30PM and the meal begins at 5:00PM.  Thank you in advance to our deacons for a job well done in hosting this fellowship.  Everyone is invited.

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

Happy forty-eighth wedding anniversary to my brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue.  I hope they will have a great day!  Celebrating at Paige’s Place in Neel.  Does it get any better than that?

Had a nice visit with Carol & Terry Lucky yesterday morning.  The doctor decided to not do surgery but has instead put her shoulder in a cast for the next eight weeks.  Carol “may” have been discharged yesterday but I am not for certain.  Keep praying for Carol.

Heidi Butler’s brother, Chip, is battling a malignancy and needs our prayers.  Pastor Jiggs Ramsey has been faithfully ministering to Chip and his family.  Please join me in praying for Chip, his parents, Heidi and the entire family.

Speaking of Heidi, Rhett and the other CWA workers have reached a tentative agreement with AT&T so they are now back on the job.  As far as I know, that is good news.  They come no better than Rhett.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

Annual church fellowship at Presley’s Outing this Sunday, 9/22, beginning at 4:00PM.  Details in my letter that went out yesterday.

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

Carol Lucky took a fall in her house resulting in a broken arm which meant admission into the hospital.  Pray for Carol and Terry.

Dottie Clark had two MRIs yesterday but the third one did not work.  She has another test on Monday.  Pray that the doctors can determine why she cannot walk.

They should be inducing Alyssa, Michelle’s daughter, today.  Pray for Alyssa and the baby (Maxine).  Pray for Michelle, Ben and the rest of the family.

It looks as though my family and friends in the Danville area will get rain this afternoon and tonight.  I pray so as they are really dry.  God knows.

First day of flag football season begins in the morning at 8:00AM.  Pray for this ministry!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.

The country of Guatemala will celebrate their independence this Sunday, 9/15.  Big doings there!  Four other Latin American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua) will also be celebrating their respective independence day on 9/15.  Busy season on GRACE Mountain.

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

Miss Dottie Clark is scheduled to have three MRI’s today or tomorrow.  Pray that the doctors will be able to get a clear picture of what is taking place, what needs to be done, et cetera.  Pray for Dr. Mike too.

Speaking of Casa Aleluya, one of their dialysis children, Eduardo, passed from this life on Tuesday and they buried him early (6:00AM) yesterday.  He was only fifteen years old.  Pray for Eduardo’s dad and his “family” at Casa.

Michelle Thomas’ daughter, Alyssa, is schedule to be induced tomorrow morning in order to give birth to her daughter, Maxine.  This will take place in Birmingham, Alabama and there are known physical problems with surgery already scheduled at some point in the first week of Maxine’s life.  Pray for Alyssa, Maxine, Michelle & Ben, the medical folks, et cetera.

Obviously, we pray for those who were negatively affected by Hurricane Francine.  As far as I know, all is well in South Mobile County.  We are thankful.  Also, thankful for the rain which came as a result of the storm.

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

The decision has been made to cancel all activities, classes, et cetera for tonight, 9/11.  Please pass the word!  Thank you!

It is impossible for me to come to this date without vividly remembering the horrific details of 2001.  It has been twenty-three years but it seems though it happened yesterday.  Praying for the families who lost loved ones on that day.

Plans are for a regular day on our campus this morning and evening.  Obviously, anyone who does not feel comfortable getting out in the wet weather today should not do so.

I learned yesterday that Jackson Steel spent some time in the hospital.  He was discharged Monday evening.  Pray for Jackson and his parents.

Bro. Chris Scofield’s mother is having some tough days physically.  Pray for her.  Pray for Bro. Chris and Miss Pepper.

Our first ever flag football season officially begins this Saturday, 9/14.  Players, coaches, fans and cheerleaders!  What?  Yes, for the first time we will have cheerleaders at one of our sporting events.  (Johnny Sessions has done a great job of leading this effort!)  Yes, Stephanie Bryant, Deidra, Tiffany Bowden and Daphne were “cheerleaders” during RA basketball but they were not an official squad.  Actually, they were just drooling over the boys!  Pray for our flag football ministry.  By the way, thank you to Miss Carol Roberts and St. John’s Catholic Church for allowing us to use their grounds for preseason practice.

The following comes from Bill Kendrick: “I will start a class on Interpretation of the Bible the first Sunday in October. It will be DVD lessons presented by Frank Turek. It will be from 10th grade to senior adults. Men, women, married, single etc.  I think the workbook will be $10.”  Need more information?  Contact Bill personally.

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