Pastor's Blog

Britan Gillespie is scheduled for a surgery that is expected to last for six hours today.  It is set to begin at 8:00AM.  As the Lord reminds you today, pray for Britan as she is in surgery and for her family as the play the waiting game! 

I did a poor job of posting yesterday morning as I left out some important information.  Some I just forgot and some I didn’t know about until later in the day.  First, Amy Huhn’s mother, Gloria Morrison, had surgery yesterday morning in her battle against cancer.  The doctors felt good about the outcome of the surgery and Ms Morrison remains in the hospital.  I knew she was having surgery and just forgot it!  My apologies to Amy & her mother! 

Rachel Jackson’s father, Mr. Hill, also had surgery yesterday.  I don’t have an update but am assuming that no news is good news!  I learned yesterday that Myrtle Baugh passed away and the funeral service is today but I don’t have the details.  I learned last night that Ms Betty Hill passed away.  She recently had heart surgery and just never overcame that procedure.  She is the wife of Mr Tom Hill who is Jodie Crawley’s grandfather.  Pray for these families!

We are still looking for folks from the Friendship family to join “Lottie’s Legion @ Friendship” which is our means of funding the 2009 LMCO.  We will be receiving a special offering this Sunday, 1/25, for the 2009 LMCO so pray and then give as the Lord leads. 

According to their blog, the Moline CRC team is having a good week of ministry in Guatemala.  They are scheduled to come home tomorrow and the Friendship CRC team is scheduled to arrive in Guatemala on Friday, 1/23.  Pray for these teams!   

T. Garrett, no particular book or anything but just online reading about the first 100 days of the new adminnistration.  Our new President and I view the matter of abortion differently and he is receiving a lot of “advice” to change some of the measures taken by the previous administration.  However, I prayed for President Obama yesterday and will do likewise today. 

Wow, my ex-girlfriend that I mentioned in the blog called me yesterday afternoon.  Amazingly, she too is a blog reader.  Pastor Travis Northcutt came clean yesterday as to his readership and so did Donald & Pat Butler who are faithful members of the Forts Lake Assembly of God Church.  I think we are at double digits.  We may have to go to “double” blogs just to accomodate everyone!  I may start a “blog” church! 

Pancho Arriola left yesterday going back to Guatemala so Rita & the girls are now residents of Grand Bay by themselves.  Pray for them as they make this adjustment.  Pancho will be back and forth in the months ahead.  I figure Kyle Bryant will keep Rita’s grass cut and Betty Creech will cook supper for them most nights – what a neighbors for? 

It is going to be a busy Wednesday with the surgery, morning service, and evening activities.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to join us for our services, Bible studies, et cetera.

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

Today is a historic day in the life of our country as President Obama takes office.  Honestly, I am very concerned about the “plan” that has been outlined for his first 100 days in office especially in regards to the abortion issue.  However, I will do as instructed in the Bible and pray for President Obama, Vice-President Biden, and all of our leaders. 

The response to our service this past Sunday evening continues to amaze me somewhat.  My day yesterday was spent with folks contacting me to tell me how it impacted them.  All I can say is “to God be the glory!” 

There are no significant changes in our prayer concerns.  I do ask that you pray fervently for Britan Gillespie as she readies for her surgery tomorrow.  Pray for her parents too. 

The numbers are getting so large that I am thinking of purchasing a calculator!  It appears that our blog readership is nearing 8 or so – wow!  Bret Hart let it slip last Friday that he is a daily reader and Pattie Suthoff has now stepped forward with her confession of being a daily reader.  Could we reach double digits?  (Pattie, tell Rusty that he needs to contact me yesterday or sooner!) 

The deer hunting season is rapidly coming to a close and some of our men are scurrying around to get a deer.  Guys, Sherry Woods killed one yesterday with little effort and she isn’t even a big hunter!  I cannot reveal all of her secrets but will say it involved an automobile and, while she is safe, the car didn’t fare so well! 

I don’t know him but I do offer congratulations to Clint Mosley on receiving a scholarship from Auburn.  Good story!  I am glad to see at least one person from Leroy, AL do well because I know one or two who haven’t!  (One of those actually married my ex-girlfriend!) 

Hope you have a great Tuesday with Jesus! 

Good Monday morning (afternoon, evening, whenever) to you!  We had a good day in our services yesterday and for that we give God the glory!  Several folks spoke to me after the evening service to say how it touched their heart and how God has spoken to them.  I received an e-mail message last night basically saying the same thing too.  God is good! 

I ask you to join me in praying for Bill Unrue as he will have cataract surgery today and for Britan Gillespie as she will have major surgery on Wednesday.  Hopefully, Miss Kathleen Henderson will get to go home from the hospital today.  Sandy Felps has had a rough go of it since she has been home from the hospital.  Jimmy Crawley continues to battle his cancer at home while Carla Felps, Shea Childress, and Miss Joyce Bosarge are taking their treatments.  Pray for all of them.

I appreciate Bro. Clint Landry’s comments in helping us prepare for the bitterly cold weather we have been having in recent days.  Our Yankee friends have no clue!  I am thinking of sending some cheese up that way! 

If you ever have a problem with your water heater, don’t get advice from Larry Whitehurst or Ross Genzink!  If you do get advice from them, just do the opposite and you will correct your problem!  Many thanks to Bubba Baggett for helping us get some hot water this weekend.  (We did find out that Guatemalans won’t stay long if you don’t have hot water!)  Actually, many thanks go to Jenni as she is the one who made the repair work happen! 

It’s Monday – gotta go!  Hope you have a great Monday with Jesus!

I made a mistake!  Let that somber fact sink in for a few minutes before you continue to read this entry!  Yesterday, I inadvertently posted under “Wednesday” and would have never known if one of our faithful readers, our daughter, Deidra, had not written to chide me!  Does the heading change the message?  I posted somewhere around 5:30AM yesterday so that was only my tenth mistake of the day – I thought I was doing so good! 

The silver lining behind this is that at least I now know that our readership is back up to four folks!  I think Deidra didn’t want me to know that she was a closet reader but the need to correct my mistakes forced her hand!  Will we reach five? 

However, in spite of my mistakes, I think my day was a bit better than the girls on the Justice High School basketball team in Boulder, CO.  They played Frontier Academy this past Tuesday night and got beat by a score of 94 to 1 (as in no field goals scored at all!).  The score at the half was 48 – 0 so they did improve in the second half!  Wow!  Sort of like what it would be if I played Ross Genzink one on one!  However, I would let Ross score at least one field goal!

Speaking of Yankees, I am tired of hearing my Yankee & Canadian friends talk about how “cold” it is where they live!  It is 3:30AM and the temperature in Grand Bay, Alabama (according to weather.com) is 31 degrees with a wind chill of 21 degrees!  We are under a hard freeze warning!  Brutal, just plain brutal!  Folks, do not go outside unless it is an emergency! 

There has been no significant changes in any of the folks in the hospital or those battling cancer.  The funeral service for Mr. Jack Fort will take place tomorrow, 1/17, at noon from the chapel at Serenity Funeral Home.  It will be preceded by two hours of visitation with the family. 

Pancho, Rita, and the girls arrived safely about 5:00PM yesterday.  They went to see their house and Eddie Hall made them take their shoes off before entering – wow! 

We are still looking for folks to join Lottie’s Legion @ Friendship.  We are still collecting vitamins, over the counter pain medicines, and cough syrup.  January is the time for the members of the Friendship family to sign up for the November 16 – 23, 2009 GRACE trip. 

T. Garrett, tell Miss Bessie that I said hello!  I hope to see the members of the Friendship family in our services this Sunday – if the bitter cold doesn’t shut us down!  Finance committee members – your meeting is at 3:30PM Sunday! 

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

We had a good Wednesday in our various Bible studies and classes which is cause to thank the Lord!  I want to encourage those who do not attend our Wednesday services to make that a part of your weekly schedule. 

Sandy Felps went home from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Carl Bradley’s niece is much improved.  Kathleen Henderson will remain in the hospital until at least Monday.  Carla Felps, Shea Childress, & Miss Joyce Bosarge are all having sicknesses related to their chemotherapy treatments.  Jimmy Crawley remains at home.  Mr. Jack Fort passed away during the night.  Dale Bosarge travels home today from Texas.  Pray for all of these folks and their families. 

Pancho, Rita, Adrianna, & Sophia Arriola are moving to Grand Bay today.  They will be renting a house from Eddie Hall (pray for them) and plan on living here for a year or maybe two.  Pray for them as they make this adjustment. 

I need an artist locally – someone who can draw something that I describe to them.  If you are one then give me a holler!  Drawing stick men doesn’t count!  Too bad T. Garrett doesn’t live closer! 

Last night in our 7:00PM service, Cooter told how he and Rachel were in the dog house when she fell out and injured her leg.  She is on crutches but they haven’t determined the exact extent of her injury but it could be her ACL.  The accident wasn’t funny but Cooter’s telling the story surely was a lot of fun! 

Wes & Rebekah Bates have gotten to Ft. Worth and he will be studying at the seminary there.  Pray for them as they make this adjustment. 

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

Today will be a “regular” Wednesday at Friendship with our morning service and then all of the evening activities concluding with our young adult Bible study which begins at 8:00PM.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to join us for one of the classes or Bible studies. 

Myrtle Baugh has been discharged from the hospital.  As far as I know at this point, the doctors have still not determined the cause of Sandy Felps’ physical problems.  Miss Kathleen Henderson now has pneumonia and will be in the hospital until next Monday, 1/19.  Amelia Bradley is better but remains in the ICU.  Continue to pray for Shea Childress, Carla Felps, Jimmy Crawley, & Joyce Bosarge in their respective battles against cancer. 

The young lady involved in the automobile accident last Friday night was a 2008 graduate of Cottage Hill Christian Academy which means she was a classmate of Kayla Brown & John Vickers.  Pray for her family and the family of the two brothers killed as they go through funeral services today and tommorrow. 

Wild Week ’09 is going to be a great time of spiritual renewal for our students.  You can get the details from our website but please know that now is the time to sign up.  Contact Chris Taylor if you have any questions. 

Lisa arrived home safe & sound late yesterday afternoon and her being home is a good thing!  I am thankful to Deidra, Daphne, and my mother-in-law for their help in Lisa’s absence.  Being Mr. Mom is so easy! 

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

Yesterday proved to be a long day.  I went to the hospital last night as Sandy Felps had some type of “spell” that caused the medical staff to move her to ICU.  When I left last night, they still had not determined what caused the problem.  Pray for Sandy, Bobby Jack & their family. 

Carl & Connie Bradley were called to the hospital to be with their niece, Amelia Bradley, 16, from Lucedale, MS.  She went into cardiac arrest and was sent by helicopter from Lucedale to Mobile.  The last word I received last night was that she was still listed as critical and was on a ventilator. 

Carla Felps received her new treatment last Thursday and it has knocked her back a few steps as it is a strong treatment.  Shea Childress goes for another treatment today.  Amy Huhn’s mother, Gloria Morrison, has a MRI done today.  Joyce Bosarge & Jimmy Crawley continue to be at home in their respective battles against cancer.  Pray for these folks.

Miss Kathleen Henderson remains hospitalized and will probably remain there for several more days.  She went in on New Year’s Eve so she is restless.  Pray for her.

GRACE Ministries is financially helping a gentleman from a neighboring village have a much needed, probably past due surgery.  Pray for him.  Thanks to Louise Mason & Samuel Acan for their help in getting this gentleman to the hospital.  Thank you to all who contribute to GRACE Ministries as it allows us to be able to help in situations like this one. 

Today is scheduled to be a good day for me as “mama” comes home.  If you think I am excited, you should see more girls.  They will be glad to see the drill sargeant go back into the wood work and mama at home! 

Mark, those dates are fine with us as far as I know.  Sorry that I missed your call but I was in the hospital making visits.  T. Garrett, got the reply from your lovely wife.  Thanks! 

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

We had another good day in our services yesterday as the Lord blessed.  Last night’s service was different but I pray it was effective.  I really appreciate those who participated – some of them on very short notice!  They did great! 

Sandy Felps, Kathleen Henderson, & Myrtle Baugh remain hospitalized.  Gloria Morrison has a MRI done tomorrow.  Lillian Brinkman & Johnny Ladnier at home recovering from their respective surgeries. Bill Teasley continues to recover at home too.  Carla Felps Kyser & Shea Childress continue to take their treatments while Brittan Gillespie awaits surgery on the 21st.  Miss Joyce Bosarge and Jimmy Crawley are home in their battles against cancer. 

If you will notice on the home page there is a place for our students to sign up for Wild Week ’09.  You can even view to see which students have already paid their deposit.  If you have any questions, please contact Bro. Chris Taylor. 

Mr. Mom has to get the girls up and to school!  T.Garrett, I need your lovely wife to reply to an e-mail today.   BTW, what is your e-mail address now? 

Carry the light?  Hope you have a great Monday with Jesus! 

OK (no pun intended) I was wrong!  The Small 12 Conference has proven in the bowl games that they weren’t such a dominant league after all.  Maybe ESPN and all of the others can now realize that the Southeastern Conference continues to be the dominant league in college football.  It is not even close!  I picked the Sooners but was pulling for the Gators (actually Tim Tebow) and the SEC!  The Rick Bradley household, Amanda O’Bannon, and even Sam Schjott are happy today while there is mourning amongst Coach Easton’s household.  The Small 12, the Little 11 (how can you be the Big Ten with 11 member schools?), et cetera need to just continue to play in the pee wee leagues and not mess with the big boys i.e. the SEC! 

In my opinion, while Florida was awarded the championship trophy last night, the real national champions are the Utah Utes.  They were undefeated (see BYU in ’84) and beat the Crimson Tide which automatically qualifies them for the championship.  (I realize FL and the refs beat Bama too but they lost a game)  As a matter of fact, Bama may lay claim to another NC since their only losses were to FL & the Utes. 

Wes & Rebekah Bates are bound for Ft. Worth, Texas and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Pray for them as they begin this new phase of their lives.  I am proud of my sons in the ministry!

Speaking of seminary, Derrick & Jodie Wilkerson are scheduled to see Sesa be given to one of his family members today.  Obviously, this is going to be a tough day for them so please remember to pray. 

Bill Teasley came home from the hospital yesterday.  Lillian Brinkman remains hospitalized but hopes to come home in a few days.  Sandy Felps has pneumonia and is in a local hospital at least through the weekend.  Miss Kathleen Henderson (Joey Switzer’s grandmother) is in a local hospital with pneumonia too.  (Joey is on my list as he did not let me know she was in the hospital!)  Marie Brooks’ great nephew remains hospital too.  Miss Baugh has been moved to a room but is still not well. 

My wife leaves today and will be out of town on a business trip until Tuesday.  So, I will put on my Mr. Mom outfit for the next few days.  What time does the Upward concession stand open tomorrow? 

My blog readership has rapidly climbed back up to three readers as Rex Looney joined the ranks again.  (By the way Rex, James Messer said tell you that he prays for you and loves you – he actually wanted me to join him for a Rebels/Bama game in the future and I volunteered you to take my place!)  I am praying for a total of five readers by May.  My oppressive, liberal friend, T. Garrett, would be a more consistent reader if I would make this site more of a debate type forum but it is not happening! 

Friendship family, thank you for your response thus far to bringing meds for GRACE Ministries.  Also, we have had three others join Lisa & me as members of “Lottie’s Legion @ Friendship” so we only need 95 more members. 

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

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  I took the liberty of sitting in on our middle school Bible study last night as Bro. Jerry was preaching in the auditorium.  A few observations – there were a lot of students in that room, middle school students like to talk, Dale Bosarge is doing a good job of teaching those students.  Pray for Dale, Chris Taylor, and our entire student ministry.

Speaking of the student ministry, now is the time to pay the deposit for the Wild Week camp this summer.  The dates are June 14 – 18 and the location is Panama City, FL.  Ken Freeman will be the camp pastor with an assist from Kacy Benson.

Members of the Friendship family have already responded in a wonderful way regarding the needs for vitamins, Tylenol, et cetera for our next GRACE Ministries trip.  A box is in the foyer of the auditorium and items for this effort can be deposited there.  Thank you! 

Speaking of Guatemala, Danny Lafferty helped preach the funeral service for Ralph Williams yesterday.  He and Pastor David Walley did a nice job.  I mention Danny to say that he looked as good physically as I have ever seen him look.  He said that he is doing good – praise the Lord! 

Miss Joyce Bosarge, Shea Childress, & Carla Felps Kyser all continue to battle their respective cancers.  Pray for them.  Susan Quinn’s surgery went well.  Miss Lillian Brinkman hopes to be home in a few days as she will receive in home therapy.  Bill Teasley was waiting on a visit from the doctor last night to discuss his test results.  Amy Huhn’s mother, Gloria Morrison, will have a MRI on the 13th and surgery on the 20th.  Marie Brooks’ great nephew, 20 months old, is in a local hospital with a blood sugar problem.  Lilly Collins’ mother passed away and that service will take place today.  Pray for all of these folks. 

I have decided to join Rick Reilly of ESPN.com and name Utah as the national champions of college football.  So, Florida and Oklahoma will play for second place tonight.  Ivan Maisel of ESPN has now jumped on my bandwagon by picking the Sooners to win.  I will still be pulling for the Gators (man, that hurts!) and the SEC but the Sooners will win! 

T. Garrett, you are such an oppressive husband! 

If you think it is cold where you are, read the comment left by Mark Mast yesterday – ouch!

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