Pastor's Blog

What a weekend!  Miss Vivian Ladnier, Melva Huff (Hilda Gunter’s sister & Joey Switzer’s aunt), Martha Pierre’s mother, Pastor Bob Harvey’s mother, and Jennifer Brown’s (works with Lisa & Julie at State Farm) grandfather all passed from this life.  (Pastor Bob’s mother lived in Missouri and Jennifer’s grandfather lived in the Starkville, MS area)  Pray for these families.

Miss Kathleen Richards, Miss Joyce Bosarge, Janie English, & Jodie Crawley are in the hospital.  Pray for them and their respective situations.  Keep praying for Carla Kyser, Miss Merle Phillips, & Pelham McGehee in their battles against cancer.  Keep praying for Docia Thompson’s sister in Lucedale, MS. 

The arrangements for Miss Vivian are a visitation with the family this afternoon in the church auditorium from 4:00 – 7:00PM.  The service will take place tonight beginning at 7:00PM.  (All adult choir members are asked to participate in the service) 

There will be another time of visitation tomorrow morning, 1/26, beginning at 10:00AM with the burial service taking place at 11:00AM in the Grand Bay Cemetery. 

Folks bringing food need to have it at the church by 10:30AM on Tuesday morning.  Questions about the food should be directed to Miss Vinnie Brewer. 

We had a good day in our three services.  No public decisions but a number of decisions at the altar.  You gave over $3,000 to the Haiti relief offering and that will be sent to the Brooklyn Tabernacle today. 

The Saints are going to the Super Bowl!  Can you believe it?  I knew they had it when Drew Brees aka Bro. Robbie Howard walked into our evening service!  JD, I tried to tell you!  I will be rooting for the Saints but think the Colts will win it all. 

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

It is 4:45AM and I have not heard from Miss Vivian since around 5:30PM last night which means nothing has changed.  The family will continue to prayerfully consider the options regarding her condition.  Pray for Miss Vivian and for the entire family.

The oldest member of our church, Miss Kathleen Richards, was admitted to the hospital last night.  She has been battling a sickness for the past two weeks or so.  Pray for Miss Kathleen! 

Jeff Camp came through his surgery well but was still having some problems late yesterday afternoon.  Time will tell.  Pray for Jeff.

Janie English seems to be in good shape.  They just need to get her off of the ventilator and then awaken her.  They will attempt to do that today.  Kendall Wayne is in good spirits regarding her situation.  Pray for Janie.

Nelva Huff, Hilda’s sister, continue to be hospitalized and in need of our prayers. 

Jack & Carolyn Ciak continue to get discouraging news in that the adoption process for Olga keeps getting prolonged.  Pray for them.

Carlton Brouwer is a really good friend and supporter of GRACE Ministries.  He lives in Michigan and is 84 years old.  He and his wife, Lorraine, have been on several GRACE trips as have many of their family members.  Mr. Carlton is having health issues and the doctors cannot pinpoint the problem.  He sees a cardiologist again on 2/4.  Pray for Mr. Carlton.

Mark & Courtney Hubbard went to M.D. Anderson for another treatment.  Courtney’s surgery is just around the corner.  Pray for her complete healing.

Please don’t forget to pray for Carla Kyser, Miss Joyce Bosarge, Miss Merle Phillips, Pelham McGehee and the others battling cancer.

The Moline CRC team left Guatemala yesterday and, as far as I know, arrived home safely last night.  It appears they had a great week of ministry.  The Friendship CRC team leaves today.  Pray for them.

Hugo Chavez says that the US has an “earthquake weapon”  which caused the quake in Haiti.  It was a test for the quake we will soon send to Iran.  This shockwave system can create “weather anomalies to cause floods, droughts, and hurricanes.”  Are you kidding me? 

Joe David, the score in the Vikings/Saints game will be so bad that Favre will be back in Kiln, MS before the game ends.  Again, Saints by 20.  The Colts will beat the Jets too as Joe Willie is too old to play! 

Friendship family – don’t forget the special offering for Haiti this Sunday and the opportuity to sign up for “Lottie’s Legion @ Friendship”.  We will have our regular services including the evening service even though the Saints will be playing. 

I will be updating throughout the weekend if any situation warrants it.  No update means no change. 

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

URGENT – IT IS 2:30AM AND I’VE JUST BEEN CALLED TO THE HOSPITAL AS MISS VIVIAN LADNIER IS BEING TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE.  SHE IS NOT RESPONDING.  PRAY!

First, please take the time to read the comment left on yesterday’s entry. 

Second, please take the time today to pray for Jack & Carolyn Ciak.  They are good friends from Casa Aleluya and they have been trying to return to Arkansas since last June.  They have been in the process of adopting Olga for a couple of years now and they just seem to hit one wall after another.  They are discouraged and need our prayer support. 

Hilda Gunter’s sister, Nelva Duff, has taken a turn for the worse.  Pastor Travis Northcutt’s grandmother, Mrs. Phillips, has gotten a not so good report from the doctor regarding her cancer.  Janie English has not been able to be weaned from the ventilator.  Miss Vivian is having some struggles but is at home.  Miss Camp’s son, Jeff, is having surgery on his back this morning.  Pray for these folks!

We had a good Wednesday but the 7:00PM service was hindered by the torrential rain.  Our morning attendance was good and our 8:00PM attendance was normal.  I didn’t get a report on the Bible studies and classes. 

The folks from Moline CRC go home tomorrow after a good week of ministry in Guatemala.  Pray for their safety in travel.  Don & Ruth Nederhood will lead a team from the Friendship CRC from Byron Center, MI that leaves tomorrow bound for a week of ministry.  Pray for them too. 

My brother Eddie has been released by the doctor and heads back to China next week.  Thank you for your prayers!

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

The doctors cleard a major blockage in Bro. Louis Reyer’s carotid artery yesterday and said it probably would prevent a major stroke.  He also said that the damage to his eye was, medically speaking, irreversible.  Bro. Louis should come home from the hospital today. 

Janie English suffered a heart attack Sunday and is in an ICU.  It is my understanding that she is in a drug induced coma and they will keep her on the ventilator until one of her lungs (pneumonia) clears up.  They placed a stent in her heart and said that her heart is no longer a problem.  Pray for her, Kendall Wayne and the entire family. 

My brother, Eddie, got a favorable report from the doctor yesterday and, if he gets another good report tomorrow, he will be headed to China next week.  Thank you for your prayers.

Raymond Johnson leaves at 7:30AM today for the beginning of his duty with the National Guard.  Pray for him.  I appreciate Bro. Jerry’s many acts of kindess to Raymond in recent months.

Continue to pray for the people of Haiti.  Some of the news agencies are reporting a death toll of 200,000 with 1.5 million survivors being homeless.  Remember, we will receive a special offering this Sunday, 1/24, in all three of our services.  Give as the Lord leads. 

Speaking of earthquakes, Guatemala had one yesterday that registered 5.8 – 6.0 but no damages or injuries.  The team from Moline out building houses didn’t feel it but their cooks at the mission house did. 

We had 21 folks (17%) join “Lottie’s Legion @ Friendship” this past Sunday and they have pledged $8,371 (21%) of our $40,000 LMCO 2010 goal.  We will keep signing folks up through January. 

We also had 19 “Who Did You Miss” cards submitted.  We are in the process of following up on those.  These cards are available in all three of our Sunday services. 

Pastor Jack Bailey & I are happy today as our beloved Lakers beat the Magic last night to run their record to 32 – 9 at the halfway point of their season.  By the way, K-State beat Texas last night too – sorry Gene & Gena!  (Have I mentioned that the Cowboys got beat Sunday?)  Lori Bailey – Saints by at least 20 as Favre’s ride is over! 

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

Karen McGriff did well through her surgery yesterday.  Lillian Brinkman had a special epidural shot given to her on Tuesday and it has had the desired effect thus far.  Miss Vivian is looking great.  They removed the trachea yesterday and she is talking – praise the Lord!  Sara Nell’s mother got a good report from the doctor too.  She is in a hospital in the Meridian, MS area.

Dean Kapenga’s mother passed away yesterday morning around 6:00AM and J.B. Miller passed away around 5:30PM yesterday afternoon.  There will be a service for Candace Morgan’s baby on Friday.  Pray for these families! 

What can I say but “thank you” to Ross & Rick Genzink and the fine folks at Genzink Plumbing!  Ross & I were talking about the national championship game on Tuesday and then yesterday the e-mail arrives telling me the game tickets will be waiting in California.  I had to scramble to find flights but this morning Andy Hamil, Morris Bryant, and I will be bound for the John Wayne Airport in Costa Mesa, California.  We will fly from New Orleans with a layover in Salt Lake City, UT.  We have four hours and forty-five minutes from our scheduled landing until game time.  Folks, it happened fast but, yes, we are going.  The three of us were there (New Orleans) in ’93 when Bama won their last national championship and hope this will be another one.  We are scheduled to return on Friday evening.  I am grateful for this opportunity.

I am joining Ross Hatcher aka “Nick Saban wanna be” in picking Texas (fingers crossed) as I am now 0 for 3 this week.  Come on Troy!  It would figure that Michael Taylor (Soy’s legal name) would get the kick blocked to cost Troy the game! 

I plan on having my computer with me in order to blog from CA on Friday.  I hope it is good.  If not, I may not blog! 

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

Pray for Bea Unrue as she is having surgery today.  My brother Eddie is also having surgery today.  The funeral service for Callie Reynolds is this afternoon so pray for Earl & Hilda and the entire family.  I assume that Miss Vivian is about the same.  Miss Kathleen Henderson remains hospitalized.  Pray for these folks.

Southern hospitality!  We hear about it often but “hospitality” isn’t limited to the South.  Lisa & I, along with our family, have experienced it many times over in Michigan and have often talked about how great those folks are at extending hospitality. 

Now, we are experiencing that same “hospitality” in Canada.  Mark, Tina, Rachel, Miriam, & Ben Mast have overwhelmed us with their genuine hospitality in these first few hours of being here.  We had an awesome supper last night and are about to enjoy a wonderful breakfast.  (Stoked eggs & all!)  Mark & Tina graciously gave Lisa & me their bed.  (I even used Mark’s toothbrush this morning but I don’t think he knows about that!)

The Bible mentions “given to hospitality” and the Mast family definitely have that gift.  So, we say “thank you” up front to them for being such gracious hosts & hostesses.   

It reached -13 degrees last night and is presently -10.  Mark, Soy, and the others have gone outside already and watched boiling water vaporize in the air and bubbles wrinkle in the cold. 

Gotta go as Mark has a full day planned.  It will culminate with a fellowship meal with friends who are involved with GRACE Ministries.  We are looking forward to today’s activities.   

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

Wow, that Al is something else.  I am 30,000 feet in the air as I write this entry.  Al & Pastor Jack – two of the smartest men I know! 

We were blessed with a really good attendance in our only worship service yesterday.  As a matter of fact, we had to ask folks to “move over” in order to get everyone seated.  We had a number of the Friendship family out of town, sick, et cetera including seven members of my own family.  However, we had several out of town guests join us and for that we are grateful.  God is good!

It was a joy to baptize two young men yesterday.  What a great way to end 2009.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

My thoughts this morning are with Ian & Brittney McClinton as Brittney will be giving birth to their first child.  Ian, the father, – wow!  Pray that all will go well in the delivery. 

Bea Unrue will have surgery tomorrow.  My brother, Eddie, will have surgery tomorrow too.  Pray for these folks. 

The visitation/service for Cassie Reynolds will take place from our church auditorium tomorrow too.  Visitation with the family beginning at noon with the service at 2:00PM.  Again, the family will have a private time until the noon hour so please respect that time. 

Miss Kathleen Henderson (Joey Switzer’s grandmother) was admitted to the hospital again yesterday.  Pray for her!   

Word came to me last night that Tobe Morris passed away.  He is the husband to Blondie and the father of Beverly, Billy, & Tracey.  Billy and his wife, Donna, practically raised me during my teenage years.  Miss Blondie taught me in Sunday School when I was in the second grade.  Pray for this family. 

O Canada!  Lisa, the girls, Soy, Deidra, & I are flying from Atlanta, GA to Minneapolis, MN and will then drive six hours or so to Rainy River, Ontario to visit Mark & Tina Mast and family along with a number of GRACE friends.  If things go as planned, we will arrive back in Atlanta on Friday night and Grand Bay on Saturday. 

Here are the high/low temps in Rainy River for the next four days: 8 & -6; 14 & 3; 13 & 5 ; 8 & -9.  Yes, those are negative numbers tonight and Thursday night.  You gotta love it!   

I do not know if Al has gotten the internet to Canada yet.  It is possible that I will not post for a couple of days but I will if at all possible. 

By the way, we decide not to go to Michigan this year and they get one foot of snow last night!  What’s up with that?

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

P.S. (For Rex) – The church office is closed today & Thursday. 

Car 54 Alert – Robin Black, where are you?  If you don’t respond, I will use your real name to locate you!

The main purpose for this post is to let the members of the Friendship family know the arrangements for Cassie Reynolds.  The visitation will take place on Tuesday, 12/29, from noon until the 2:00PM service time.  The visitation and service will take place from the auditorium of our church buildings. 

Please note and respect that the family needs privacy until noon for their family time.  Please pray for the Reynolds family.

Remember, the visitation with Jodie & her family will take place from 1:00PM  until the 2:00PM service time today at Faith Baptist Church. 

Today is the 52nd and final Sunday of 2009.  What is your average regarding church attendance in 2009?  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our 10:30AM service today as it is the only service we are having.

This entry is coming from the Quail Creek Golf Resort & Conference Center near Eva, Alabama.  Sounds pretty sophisticated doesn’t it?  If you only knew!  Our family – parents, children, in laws, grandchildren, & great grandchildren have gathered for an annual Christmas fellowship.  We had a good time last night of eating and enjoying family time. 

I post today to ask you to pray for two families that will be attending funeral services for their loved ones.  The first will be the Johnny Gulley family as his service will take place at noon from Serenity.  The visitation will begin at 10:00AM.  Johnny is Ruby Gulley’s brother-in-law and also Janice Smith’s brother-in-law.  Pray for this family.

Gerald Poiroux’s nephew, Bobby, (age 45), passed away this week and his service will take place at 2:00PM today also from Serenity.  The visitation will begin at 12:00 noon.  Pray for this family also. 

I remind you that the service for Mr. Tom Hill takes place tomorrow afternoon at 2:00PM from Faith Baptist Church.  The visitation begins at 1:00PM. 

I am assuming that the arrangements for Cassie Reynolds will be finalized today.  I will announce them in church tomorrow and post them here also.  Pray for Earl & Hilda and the family during this most difficult time.

We will have one service tomorrow beginning at 10:30AM.  Lord willing, I will be there to preach.  Hope to see many members of the Friendship family present for that service. 

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

I received a call around 8:00PM last night that Earl & Hilda Gunter’s oldest daughter, Cassie Reynolds, had unexpectedly passed away.  She was at home after having spent the day at Earl & Hilda’s for a family Christmas gathering.  Cassie was 45 years of age.  While Cassie had her share of health issues, her passing came as a complete shock to the family.  Pray for her husband, two sons, Earl & Hilda and the entire family during this most difficult time.