Pastor's Blog

Curtis Wilkinson was moved to a rehab hospital yesterday so that is a positive on his road to a complete recovery.  Billy Smith continues to do well in his recovery.  Phyllis Bush got a good report and a not so good report so pray for all of these situations.

The pig roast was a wonderful time of fellowship.  Caroline Ford, Betty Creech, Jan Koeman, & Shari Compagner did a great job of preparing the trimmings for the pig and a pot of gumbo to boot.  Tom Compagner and his dad, Mr. Mil, did a great job of roasting the pig.  It was so good to see and visit with about 160 supporters of GRACE Ministries.  It was a special blessing to have Mark, Tina, & Ben Mast from Canada join us.  So, we had folks from the USA, China, and Canada.  Kristen & Ross DeYoung shared a message in song and did an awesome job!  It was a blessed evening! 

Today, we head to Wisconsin to visit with a little girl from China who used to stay with Eddie & Sue.  She was adopted by a family from Madison.  This will be my first venture into Wisconsin. 

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

Yesterday was a full day for Lisa and me.  We drove the hour and twenty minutes or so from Kalamazoo to Holland for Jennie Blauwkamp’s funeral service.  The service was good and we surely enjoyed seeing Ken & Jean Assink.  We then made it back to K’zoo just long enough to change clothes and drive the twenty-five minutes to Paw Paw where we joined one uncle and his wife, two aunts, two first cousins, two second cousins and the wife of one of the first cousins for a meal and time of fellowship.  That was a great time!

Bro. Jerry sent me an update to let me know that Billy Smith did fine through his surgery even though he is in a lot of pain.  He also said that Curtis Wilkinson has been moved from the ICU to a regular room and is battling with some pneumonia.  He may be moved to a rehab facility in a few days.  Pray for these folks.

Today is going to be busy as we prepare for the annual pig roast.  Caroline Ford and Betty Creech arrived by plane late yesterday afternoon and will be leading the cooking aspect of this happening.  I am very thankful to the Lord for our Michigan friends and their involvement in GRACE Ministries.  Pray that this will be a meaningful evening of celebration and worship. 

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

Good Monday morning from Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Yes, there is a place called Kalamazoo!  Tico Vargas, Lisa and I left Grand Bay around 2:00PM yesterday afternoon and we stopped in Prattville to leave Tico with some friends (hope they found him standing on the shoulder of I-65).  Lisa and I then drove on to Hartselle, AL where we loaded into a vehicle and drove (we actually rode as Eddie drove) all night arriving in K’zoo around 6:30AM.  Thanks for Benny & Julie McGath we enjoyed breakfast at Bob Evans (I think he is a friend of their’s) and have now checked into a hotel. 

We will sleep for a couple of hours and then drive an hour or so to Holland where we will attend the funeral service for Jennie Blauwkamp. 

Tonight, we will gather in Paw Paw, MI with my mom’s side of the family for a time of reunion and fellowship.  We are looking forward to seeing aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

Pray for Billy Smith as he is undergoing surgery this morning to replace his knee.  Larsyn Kyser is running a temp of 104 and has a cough to go along with her pneumonia.  Pray for Carla Kyser, Miss Joyce Bosarge, Phyllis Bush, & George Taylor in their respective battles against cancer.  Pray for Mr. Curtis Wilkinson as he remains hospitalized.  Melinda Eckert meets with a specialist in B’ham on December 1 to discuss her situation. 

Thanks for Dale Bosarge for preaching in my absence last night.  Thanks to the Friendship family for being so gracious and generous to Tico Vargas. 

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

It is unusual for me to post on a Saturday but I wanted to share a couple of quick things.  Besides, it is 4:00AM and I just returned from a Wal Mart run.  Amazingly, I didn’t see anyone I know! 

The final Upward evaluations take place today from 9:00AM until 12:00 noon.  Pass the word! 

Allen Glover was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  They didn’t really find anything “major” so that is good!  Mr. Curtis Wilkinson remains hospitalized.  Billy Smith will have knee replacement surgery this Monday, 10/20.  Miss Carmen Reyer will have knee replacement surgery on Wednesday, 11/19.  Carla continues to receive her treatments and her baby has been sick this week too.  Miss Joyce Bosarge and Phyllis Bush also continue to battle their respective cancer.  Pray for these folks!

David French will lead several members of the Friendship family to Dauphin Island today where they will participate in the Walk For Bibles.  Pray for them! 

Brad, Daphne, & I will leave later this morning bound for Prattville where we will pick up Tico Vargas and take him to Tuscaloosa to watch his first American college football game.  He will then come back to Grand Bay with us and will preach in tomorrow’s morning services. 

Jennie Blaukamp’s funeral service will take place on Monday afternoon, 10/20, in Holland, Michigan.  Lord willing, Lisa and I are going to attend that service to pay our respects and as a sign of our deep appreciation for all Aunt Jennie has done for GRACE Ministries.  We will then attend the annual GRACE Ministries pig roast on Tuesday night at the Vriesland Reformed Church.  We will be joined by my brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue.  We will have a Brown family gathering on Monday evening in Paw Paw, MI.  Pray for us as we travel. 

It is off to Tuscaloosa where it seems that about half of the members of the Friendship family will gather for three hours or so this afternoon.  I can only hope we will have a happy ride home! 

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus!  Go to church tomorrow! 

I am posting late today because I thought that I had already posted.  I was out cutting grass and doing some thinking (I think a lot while I cut grass) and it suddenly dawned on me that I had not posted.  Sorry!

Allen Glover was admitted to a local hospital last night for observation.  I am not sure if he will be discharged today as that depends on what they find out about his condition.  Curtis Wilkinson remains in an intensive care unit.  Pray for these men. 

Ken Assink sent me an e-mail this morning to share that his Aunt Jennie Blaukamp passed away last night.  Lisa and I were introduced to Aunt Jennie several years ago and she was a gracious supporter of GRACE Ministries.  As a matter of fact, she gave the finances to make it possible for the folks in Panimaquin to have water as a well was drilled for that village.  What a blessing that has been already and will be for many years to come.  Aunt Jennie loved the Lord and our conversations always centered around her faith and her family.  Lisa and I always loved to stop by and visit with Aunt Jennie whenever we were in Michigan.  I know that she was ready to meet the Lord and is now enjoying His presence.  I ask that you join me in praying for the Blaukamp family. 

I ask the ladies of the Friendship family to remember the baby showers over the next two days – one for Jennifer Davis tomorrow and one for Amber Sessions on Sunday. 

As I have stated before, I am not a huge baseball fan but I did enjoy the game last night.  What an amazing comeback by the Red Sox.  Wow! 

Lisa just came through and told me to get back to cutting the grass – she cracks the whip pretty hard!  I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus! 

I am posting late today because I wanted to see Mr. Curtis Wilkinson to see if there was any new happenings in his situation.  There are none but he did have a better day yesterday.  I think this is day 22 in the unit so please pray for him and his family as they sit and wait. 

Thanks to those who attended the service for Billy Sellers yesterday afternoon and to those who provided food for the Sellers family. 

This Saturday, 10/18, is the Walk For Bibles (it actually goes by another name now) and David French is leading the folks from our church who are going to participate.  Our folks will walk on Dauphin Island.  If you need more information, would like to walk, or would like to make a financial pledge, please call the church office before 5:00PM today and Miss Camp will put you in touch with David. 

I read an update from Pastor Jack Bailey yesterday and they are doing well in Romania.  Please pray for the last couple of days of their mission trip as they are scheduled to arrive home Saturday afternoon. 

I am grateful to see the fuel prices on the decline.  Regular unleaded is selling for $2.88 per gallon at one of the local stations in Grand Bay.  I don’t guess I would have ever seen myself thinking $2.88 per gallon was a good deal but when it was at $3.99 just a few weeks ago then it becomes a real good deal.

Tico Vargas is scheduled to be our guest speaker in the 8:00AM & 10:30AM services this Sunday, 10/19.  He missed his flight out of Guatemala yesterday but he has plans to arrive tomorrow.  All of this could change but, as it presently stands, he will be with us this Sunday.  Tico serves as the president of the seminary in Chimaltenango, Guatemala. 

The Mississippi gopher frog caught a break this year when a pond in Harrison County, MS retained enough water to allow the tadpoles to mature.  I read that this frog is on the endangered species list and this is a major breakthrough for this species of frog.  Aren’t you glad that I shared that info with you?

The Dodgers got beat last night which eliminates them from the playoffs.  I didn’t see any of the game but I am certain the umpires cost them the game!  That’s the American way! 

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

As I mentioned yesterday, Estuardo Morales did well through his surgery yesterday but will remain hospitalized for about seven days.  Pray for him. 

I don’t have an update on Mr. Wilkinson but have plans to see him this morning. 

Stephen Harper has apparently retained his position as the Prime Minister of Canada.  Mark Mast sends a word of thanks to all who prayed yesterday. 

Today will be a regular Wednesday with the 10:00AM service and all of the evening activities.  My day will end around 9:30 – 10:00PM with the college/young professionals Bible study. 

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

The funeral service for Billy Sellers will take place tomorrow, 10/15, at 3:00PM from the chapel at Serenity Funeral Home.  A time of visitation will precede the service.

Estuardo Morales came through his surgery very well and will now be hospitalized for about seven days.  Keep praying! 

Vote today!  Wait, we can’t vote as it is election day in Canada but we can pray.  Missionary Mark Mast has asked that we pray Stephen Harper of the Progressive Conservative Party will be reelected.  I know nothing about Canadian politics but I do respect Mark’s request! 

The first night of Upward evaluations seemed to be busy as I passed through the CAB on my way to FAITH.  Thanks to all who helped Bro. Benny.  The remaining schedule is tonight and Thursday from 6:00 – 8:00PM and Saturday morning.  Questions?  Call Bro. Benny! 

I received a call yesterday afternoon from Louise Mason in Guatemala informing me that Estuardo Morales is to have surgery this morning.  This has to do with an infection.  Pray for him. 

Curtis Wilkinson remains hospitalized but Melinda Eckert did come home Sunday afternoon.  Billy Sellers passed away yesterday morning.  The arrangements are incomplete at this time. 

Members of a first grade class in San Francisco, CA were taken on a field trip last Friday.  Okay, you say.  The problem is they were taken to see their lesbian teacher’s wedding ceremony!  Wow! 

A young (19 years old) girl in NC has legally changed her name from Jennifer to Cutoutdissection.com.  Obviously, she is opposed to the dissecting of animals!  Different! 

Did your high school team have a tough game this past Friday?  Check out these two scores:  Naples High 91 to Estero High 0 (Florida); Beechcroft High 96 to Centennial High 0 (Ohio).   Oh my!

Rex Looney, thanks for the update!  Bret Hart, you mad or what? 

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

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  (You are already thinking that I have lost my mind!)  As Lee Corso would say, “not so fast my friend!”  Today, 10/13, is Thanksgiving Day in Canada and I promised my missionary friend, Mark Mast, that I would mention it on this blog as he is a regular reader.  Their Thanksgiving Day is always the second Monday in October so it is really a two day celebration as they begin on Sunday. 

We had a really good Sunday as we gathered to study the Word and worship the Lord!  What a joy to welcome James & Mary Cook and Dawn Autin into the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  Also, it was a tremendous blessing to me as the Friendship family voted last night to host the second annual pastors’ conference in Guatemala next October 13 – 15.  They also graciously voted to allow me to accept the invitation to preach at the GBS graduation ceremony October 10, 2009.  Thank you!  We will begin asking for scholarship money for the pastors’ conference after the first of the year. 

Curtis Wilkinson remains hospitalized but is going through therapy and making improvement.  Melinda Eckert remains hospitalized too.  Bro. Kerry was in the services yesterday morning but had to miss last night.  Carla Felps Kyser, Joyce Bosarge, & Phyllis Bush all continue to battle their respective cancer.  Billy Smith will have knee replacement surgery next Monday.  Miss Carmen Reyer will also be having knee replacement surgery in a few weeks.  Miss Vivian Ladnier had eye surgery recently but was back in church yesterday morning and last night.  Pray for these various situations!

Estuardo Morales in Guatemala has an infection and was hospitalized Thursday night but I don’t know his present status.  We left Louise Mason sick but hopefully she is better.  Miss Vivian Smith is a retired missionary in Canada and is a very, very dear friend of Mark & Tina Mast.  She was very low physically last week but has now rallied.  She is 88 years of age.  Please pray for Estuardo, Louise, and Miss Vivian. 

Pastor Terry & Miss Cookie Rainey’s daughter, Shannon, has a mass in her left arm.  It needs to be removed but she has to get approval from her cardiologist in order to have surgery.  She meets with him today so please pray for Shannon!

My pastor friend, Jack Bailey, and his minister of music, Doug Seaver, are in Romania this week on a mission trip.  I don’t know if I should ask you to pray for Bro. Jack or for Romania! 

Bro. Benny begins the Upward evaluations tonight from 6:00 until 8:00PM.  The same schedule will be followed tomorrow night and Thursday night.  You may bring your child to any of these evaluation times.  Also, folks are needed to help with this process so just come join Bro. Benny if you can help!

Bama didn’t get beat this past Saturday while TN & ND did which is always a good thing!  The Dodgers finally won one against the Phillies to at least make the series interesting. 

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