Pastor's Blog

Wow, in just fifteen hours or so, the year 2007 will be history!  When I was a child I was always told that time seemingly passes quicker the older one gets but I didn’t believe that to be true.  Today, I believe it! 

The year 2007 holds many fond memories for me but none greater than seeing Brad & Daphne unite in marriage on 6/30 and Michael & Deidra do likewise on 8/11.  Lisa and I are blessed to have these new sons-in-law.  I could list many other memories but won’t bore you with them!

There are many wonderful things planned for 2008 beginning with the ordination of Wes Bates this Sunday, 1/6, during our evening service.  Here are some other anticipated highlights – our Upward awards night; Evangelist Ken Freeman being with us 2/10 – 13; Deidra’s seminary graduation; VBS; Wild Week student camp; and our GRACE trips.  That list isn’t meant to be exhaustive but gives you an idea that we are going to have an exciting year (you may not be too excited about Deidra’s graduation but Lisa and I are!) 

Another anticipated highlight for Lisa, the girls, and me will be the construction of our house.  The Friendship family has graciously consented for us to build and we have plans to begin soon.  Lord willing, we will build on the property owned by Lisa’s parents.  Can our marriage survive this? 

As many other pastors probably did yesterday to their church families, I challenged the members of the Friendship family to join me in reading through the entire Bible during 2008.  You may select a plan that works best for you but if you simply want to read straight through then here are the chapter readings for the first week:  1/1 – Genesis 1 – 3; 1/2 – Gen 4 – 6; 1/3 – Gen 7 – 9; 1/4 – Gen 10 – 12; 1/5 – Gen 13 – 15; 1/6 – Gen 16 – 18. 

It was great to have Pastor Abel Garcia, 1st Baptist Freeport, TX, bring the message during our service last night.  I appreciate Pastor Abel & Lynn and the work they are doing in Freeport. 

It appears that we will end 2007 with no one from the Friendship family being hospitalized – praise the Lord!  Edna Holifield’s sister (MS) and Louise Morris’ brother (MO) both are in need of our prayers at this time.  Please continue to pray for Miss Exie Woods, Sarah Thornton, and Sara Nell Moulds (she was in the service last night) as they recover at home. 

I hope you have a great day with Jesus. 

The week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is normally a quiet one and this year is proving no different thus far.  The church office has been open each day except Christmas Day but not much has been happening especially considering that we did not have any services yesterday or last night.  Bro. Jerry is on vacation until next Wednesday but everyone else is on a regular work schedule.  The office will be closed on New Year’s Day too. 

I announced during the Christmas Eve service that Miss Exie Woods was back in the hospital.  That proved to be the wrong information as the doctors decided against admitting her.  However, she is having a procedure done today as she continues to be extremely weak and having physical problems.  Bro. Kerry has gone to wait with the family while this procedure takes place.  Pray for Miss Exie. 

I saw Tom Thornton at the post office yesterday afternoon and learned that Sarah had to undergo an additional surgery.  She is at home mainly because she refused to remain in the hospital any longer.  Pray for Sarah! 

The funeral service for Melanie Byrne, 36, was held this morning at the Daphne United Methodist Church.  Melanie passed away on 12/23 after a lenghty battle with cancer.  She is a friend of Kim French and we have had her name on our prayer list for months.  Pray for her husband, Mark, the daughters, Mallory & Madelyn, and the rest of the family. 

Ross & Kathy Genzink along with 23 others from Michigan are enroute to Guatemala today.  Pray for them to have safety in travel and a blessed week of ministry. 

I hope you have a great day with the Lord! 

I wrote in my last entry that I would blog again on 12/24/07 but, obviously, I did not make that entry.  I basically decided to turn my cell phone off and limit my time on the computer during these days as we have focused on the birth of Christ. 

This has been a different Christmas season for my family but one we have enjoyed immensely.  Lisa wanted to spend this Christmas at home since we now have two sons-in-law.  We enjoyed an immediate family time on Sunday night and then joined Lisa’s parents, her sister Kim & husband, Gary, and Buddy Jones for our annual Christmas Eve family gathering.  Michael & Deidra and Brad & Daphne spent the night with us on Christmas Eve and we celebrated Christmas Day as a family by just hanging around the house, eating, playing board games & cards, taking a nap, and eating!  We have enjoyed a good few days together as a family.  I thank God for my wife, our five daughters, and our two sons-in-law. 

We had two good services this past Sunday and an excellent service on Monday evening.  I am thankful to God for His blessings during these services.  What a joy to see Traci Holifield make a public profession of faith desiring baptism during our second service Sunday morning.  Thanks to our student choir and Rebecca Mang for providing the vocals during our Christmas Eve service and to our instrumentalists for their special.  I believe Jesus was exalted during that service. 

I have to say a huge “thank you” to Rhett Butler, Brad Hutto, Dewayne Lavelle, and TJ Vice for their help on Christmas Eve morning as they unloaded and reloaded the container.  Deidra and Hien gave a late assist too.  We were looking for 21 boxes containing the school uniforms for Casa Aleluya and finally found them.  They will be shipped to Tennessee today and then taken to Guatemala next week as school begins on 1/15/08. 

Ross & Kathy Genzink are leading a group of 25 from the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church in Holland, MI to Guatemala to do mission work.  They leave for Detroit late this afternoon and then fly out tomorrow and return next Thursday, 1/3.  Ross & Kathy are the only two in this group who have ever been to Guatemala so this should be a neat experience.  Our staff in Guatemala has done a good job in getting ready for them and are eagerly anticipating helping them during their time in Guatemala. 

I remind the members of the Friendship family that we will have two worship services this Sunday, 12/30, – 10:30AM & 5:00PM. 

Please pray for my dad, Charles Turrentine, as he has a pretty severe case of the shingles on his left leg.  He missed our family gathering this past Saturday due to this illness.  Those of you who have had shingles can feel his pain.  Your prayers are appreciated. 

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

We had a good day yesterday in our services and we are thankful for the Lord’s blessings.  That marked the last Wednesday that we will meet in 2007 as we will not have any services/Bible studies/classes next Wednesday, 12/26.  However, we will resume a normal schedule on Wednesday, 1/2/08. 

I spoke too soon yesterday about members of the Friendship family not being in the hospital.  Sarah Thornton was admitted to the hospital with an infection which, I am assuming, has to do with her recent surgery.  Pray for Sarah.

Lisa, the girls, Buddy Jones, and I will leave late this morning, Lord willing, to drive to Hartselle, AL for my extended family’s Christmas gathering which will take place on Saturday.  Michael & Deidra will join us tomorrow while Brad & Daphne will do the same tomorrow night.  My brother from China found out at basically the last minute that he can’t come home but the rest of us should be there and I am looking forward to it.  We will return home Saturday night in order to be in the services Sunday morning. 

I probably will not make another entry into this blog until Monday, 12/24, unless something happens that needs to be shared with the members of the Friendship family.  I hope you and your family will be in church this Sunday and I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus. 

A Santa had a huge scare this past Sunday.  He was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil flying via helicopter to a children’s party when his aircraft was shot down as it flew over an area known for illegal drug use.  Police sometimes raid the area using helicopters and it appears this was a case of mistaken identity.  Everyone was okay and the Santa arrived at the party a little later via an automobile.  Whew!  Maybe he should have used the sleigh!

Happy birthday to Sharon Jardee!  Sharon has had a bit of a tough go lately with her knee and is probably looking at knee replacement surgery.  She is an integral part of our FAITH ministry as she serves as the secretary.  How old is she today?  More than 20 and less than 100!  Happy birthday Sharon! 

We are blessed by the fact that we presently do not have any members of the Friendship family hospitalized.  We have some folks recovering at home from hospital stays but everyone seems to be doing well.  Praise the Lord! 

I read an interesting story about a man from New Hampshire who attended his first Pittsburg Steelers football game this past Sunday.  He has been a Steelers fan for many years and always wanted to attend a game.  His wife granted his wish and “took” him to the game last Sunday as they hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Steelers lost the game.  However, I don’t think the man really cared as he passed away last March!  His body was cremated and his wife took the urn containing some of his ashes with her to the game.  (I would be the guy seated next to the lady and she would ask me something like, “I need to go to the ladies room, would you watch my husband while I am gone?”)  Wow! 

We are on a regular schedule today with our morning & evening services, Bible studies, and mission classes.  I hope to see the members of the Friendship family there! 

I apologize for not entering a post yesterday and I really don’t know what happened.  The day began busily and before I knew it the day was over.  It definitely wasn’t one of my better days as it began with me having to restrain our dog, Lucky, because he kept digging under the fence.  He was/is not a happy camper and I don’t think he is going to send me a Christmas card this year.  However, the 95 or so church members he jumped on and knocked down will probably be glad that “Clifford” isn’t coming their way anymore!  My day kind of just went down hill from there and has led to a long, sleepless night for me.  Oh well, there is always hope for tomorrow! 

Sunday was a blessed day for the Friendship family.  The adult choir did a nice job of leading us in worship during the evening service as they presented the “Canticle of Christmas.”  I appreciate the many hours of preparation they put into that musical.

This is a busy week as the elementary children in the public schools are taking another round of CRT’s and we are having Upward basketball games each night except Wednesday.  This will allow us to be off this Saturday and I appreciate Bro. Benny working so tirelessly to make this happen. 

I read a couple of interesting stories on the internet and both involved automobile accidents.  One lady in Texas was a passenger in a vehicle and was declared dead by the EMT’s and had her body appropriately covered to indicate such.  However, when someone from the medical examiner’s office arrived, they found her to be alive.  (I thought of the “90 Minutes in Heaven” book)  She was taken to the hospital and is listed in critical condition. 

The other situation involved a lady who was involved in an accident in California.   Her son was taken to a hospital but she was not removed from the car.  This happened on Saturday and on Sunday someone from the family mentioned that two folks were in the car.  They went to the towing company’s yard and found the lifeless body of the 72 years old woman.  An autopsy is being performed to determine the exact time of death.  Amazing! 

The University of Michigan finally got a football coach.  Ross, I only have one question.  One of the news reports stated that the coach and his entourage toured the locker room using a flashlight for illumination – do they not have electricity in the big house? 

I hope you have a great Tuesday with Jesus. 

After Al Gore invented the internet, he moved on to the global warming scene.  Yesterday afternoon while I was mowing the lawn at my in-law’s, I began to think that maybe Al is right.  It was almost eighty degrees on the 13th of December and I am cutting grass – what’s up with that?  (Hopefully, the weather guys are right and by Sunday it will be much cooler here)  By the way, Ann cooked supper for me and Charles agreed to sell me some pecans.  He is getting $2 a pound and, since I mowed his lawn, he agreed to let me have five pounds for $10.50!   

Did you read/see/hear where that burned body was found in a garden near Paris?  It appears a guy had stowed away in the landing gear of a jet and fell out.  Wow!

Jennifer Wetterer graduates from Troy University this morning.  Sharon Chandler graduates from Auburn University Montgomery tomorrow morning.  (I normally don’t recognize those AU schools but I’m making an exception for Laurie!)  Congratulations to Jennifer, Sharon and all of our December graduates i.e. Brandon Baker, Lindsey Hatcher, & Erin Shepherd come to mind but I am sure that I am leaving someone off that list. 

Speaking of Lindsey Hatcher, that teacher wannabe seemed to think I had made some spelling mistakes in yesterday’s entry but I went back to check it and it all looked corrict to me!  They get engaged and totally forget that love is blind! 

Speaking of Jennifer, I am told that today is the birth date of Jennifer Jackson Davis.  Happy birthday Jennifer! 

I hope you have a great weekend and that you will be in church on Sunday.  Christians should fill the church auditoriums as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

The Lord blessed and we had a good Wednesday in our various services, Bible studies, and classes.  From all reports, the Christmas party at the convalescent home went well too. 

We are good to go as far as folks being in the hospital right now.  We continue to pray for those who are recovering at home. 

Lori Breedlove Bailey gave birth to a set of twins yesterday afternoon.  They checked in weighing five pounds and five pounds and nine ounces respectively.  Mother, son, and daughter are doing fine as is daddy – Joe David Bailey.  These are the newest grandchildren for Pastor Jack & June Bailey of Danville Baptist and of the late Dwight Breedlove and Jennifer Breedlove.  Congratuations to Joe David and Lori! 

Speaking of giving birth, you ever wondered why pregnant women don’t fall forward since they are carrying some much weight out front?  I haven’t but some scientists obviously did so they conducted a study on the matter.  Their conclusion?  Women and men are built differently (must have been rocket scientists) in their lower back and hips with women being built in such a way that they can carry the extra weight without falling forward.  The reason?  Evolution noted the need and made a slight change in the female’s body structure.  Please!  If only God could have seen this then perhaps He could have created us!  We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” as an awesome Creator (God) created us in His image!  I could have saved those scientists a lot of money and time! 

T. Garrett, your grandmother is not a happy camper with you! 

Hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus.

Mark Mast sent an update on Lou Ricci.  She failed a stress test yesterday which means she will now be moved to Winnipeg where they will insert a stent(s) or do heart by-pass surgery.  Keep Lou and Don on your prayer list. 

Mark also noted something that I inadvertently left out of an e-mail to our most recent GRACE trip participants.  I listed some things that had been done but failed to mention that more than one VBS was conducted by our team.  Those were absolutely great ministry opportunities and the folks who prepared for and led them did an outstanding job – especially in the area of arts & crafts.  So, forgive my mistake and know that God certainly has record of your ministry to those children.  Thank you for giving to the Lord!

I had the opportunity yesterday to spend an hour or so with our senior adults at their annual Christmas party.  The food was good, the fellowship was even better, but the best part was watching them play dirty Santa!  We have some good senior saints! 

The internet allows me to read some interesting stuff such as forty McDonalds restaurants (you decide if McDonalds is a restaurant or not) in England are issuing fines to folks who take too long to eat!  I have never been to England but apparently you can go through the drive-thru and then sit in the parking lot to eat your food.  You now have forty-five minutes to finish your meal and move on or you are fined $225.  I know some folks who would be in trouble! 

Well Bret Hart, Arkansas finally did get a coach but if his track record is any indicator then don’t plan on his being around too long.  He is a proven coach and should do well for the half season he is there calling the Hogs! 

Ross Genzink, what’s up with Michigan not hiring a coach already?  Could it be that no one really wants to coach in the Little Eleven Conference? 

Speaking of Ross, today is Ryan Genzink’s 22nd birthday!  Happy birthday, Ryan!  (It seems to me that today is Heath Tucker’s birthday too but I may be wrong on that one – I do know he has a December birthday) 

It is Wednesday so for me that means the two services in the auditorium, senior high Bible study, and the young adults Bible study.  It also means junior high Bible study, mission friends, RA’s, & GA’s.  Tonight it means the annual Christmas party at the convalescent home which is sponsored by the folks who lead our ministry there.  What a great ministry! 

I hope you have a great Wednesday serving Jesus!

When I made an entry this morning, I was unaware that Exie Woods and Sarah Thornton had both been discharged from the hospital.  That is good news!  Sorry for providing wrong information!