Pastor's Blog

Word came to me yesterday that Homer Perkins fell out of his bed and broke his neck.  He is hospitalized and in traction.  It sounds as though he will be in traction for an extended period of time. 

Miss Martez Richerson had cataract surgery and did fine.  Miss Jean Jackson is at home but is not well.  Miss Vivian Ladnier’s situation is basically unchanged.  Carla Kyser goes for more tests next Tuesday.  Pray for all of these folks!

I am told the the annual Thanksgiving meal for the senior adults went very well with some 225 in attendance.  Praise the Lord! 

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

Today is a busy day in the life of the Friendship family as we host the annual Thanksgiving meal for the senior adults of our community.  This makes thirty something consecutive years for this ministry opportunity.  Pray for all those who will attend as well as those who are involved with the cooking, serving, et cetera. 

As far as I know, there are no significant changes in the folks who are hospitalized, battling cancer, et cetera.  Keep praying!

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

Word from the doctor is that Miss Betty Taylor is “cancer free” and we give God the glory for this good report!  What a blessing!  Miss Betty has been faithfully trusting in God regardless of the outcome.  We join her in a spirit of gratefulness.  Please keep praying for all of those battling cancer especially Carla Kyser, Miss Joyce Bosarge, and Miss Kathleen Richards. 

Miss Vivian remains hospitalized but did her best on Monday night to rid herself of the tubes, et cetera and go to the house.  Pray for her and her family. 

Bro. Robbie Howard is preaching today in my absence.  I pray that many members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend the services. 

Again, you can read an update from the trip on the GRACE blog. 

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

It says something about “the best laid plans” and that applied to me yesterday.  My “plans” were to blog from the plane as we were enroute to Guatemala City as I had been assured the plane had WiFi – wrong!  Sorry about that!

I was encouraged by the day we had this past Sunday.  I appreciate the men who came to the ordination examination council for Bro. Jerry Whitmore.  Of course, laying hands on him as we ordained him in the evening service was special.  Pray for Bro. Jerry & our entire deacon body. 

Thank you to Bro. Benny & Julie McGath for coordinating the “surprise” 50th birthday party for Buddy Jones on Sunday night.  Thank you to everyone who came, prepared food, gave gifts, et cetera to help him have a great day.  I pray that God will bless you for your kindness.

I know that we received over $1,000 for our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering but I don’t know an exact total.  I hope to update you in tomorrow’s post.  We have two Sundays to reach our $30,000 goal by month’s end.  God can use us to do it!  Will you help?  Thanks!

Miss Betty Taylor went to the oncologist yesterday, Miss Kathleen Henderson had a surgical procedure done, Mr. Fore was supposed to be discharged from the hospital, Anna Carol continues her recovery at home and sees the doctor today and Miss Vivian had a bad night on Sunday but a better day yesterday.  Carla Kyser & Miss Joyce Bosarge continue to battle their respective cancer.  Miss Kathleen Richards also has a malignancy and needs our prayers.  She is our oldest church member at 97 years of age – what a sweetheart.  Pray for these folks!

Ted Ezell’s son, Thomas Hughes, receives a huge “thank you” for arranging our airport parking for the bus yesterday. 

Did I mention the weekend was good?  UT & ND lost their respective games while Bama won – does it get any better than that? 

You can keep up with our GRACE team’s ministry by reading the GRACE entries.  I plan on blogging here daily too as I am given information from home. 

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

I spoke to Anna Carol Bosarge via the phone this morning.  She is at home recovering but is still in a lot of discomfort/pain.  She goes back to the doctor on Monday to have the packing taken out.  She said her sinuses actually feel better i.e. no pressure but she just has to get over the surgery.  Keep praying for her.

Dale & Karla Bosarge are traveling to Columbia, SC this weekend.  They will be ministering on Saturday night and returning home on Sunday.  Pray for safe travels and a blessed time of ministry. 

We have four members of the Friendship family joining eleven Yankees tomorrow morning for a mission trip to Guatemala.  Pray for them as they travel and minister.

Not much on the news front this morning so this will be short & sweet.  Lisa & visited with Miss Vivian late yesterday afternoon and also saw Miss Helen Ruth Brinkman.  Miss Helen is going to two doctors today and then will spend a few days with her son & his wife. 

We will ordain Jerry Whitmore as a deacon this Sunday night with the council meeting at 4:00PM and the ordination taking place as a part of our evening service. 

We will host the “surprise” 50th birthday party for John Ronald “Buddy” Jones after the worship service this Sunday evening.  I hope a good number of the Friendship family members will attend. 

I look forward to joining you this Sunday morning & evening in our Bible study & services. 

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

Lucky!  That is not a description but rather our dog’s name and he is the reason for us not having internet service the past three days!  The Mediacom repairman came late yesterday afternoon to discover that Lucky had chewed the cable almost into!  (Now, no one saw Lucky do it so it could have been one of the girls but for now we are going with Lucky!)  It makes for a long story but it is basically Soy’s fault! 

Miss Helen Ruth Brinkman fell on Monday night and broke her collarbone.  She is at home but needs our prayers during this recovery process.

No significant change with anyone else – Miss Vivian, Miss Jackson, & Mr. Fore all remain hospitalized.  Wayne Hickman went home on Tuesday. 

We have a “new” American citizen among us as Rita Padilla passed her citizenship test and was sworn in this past Tuesday.  Congratulations to Rita!

Marisa Felps sent me a link to a YouTube video yesterday that contains a Christmas song.  Nice song and nice message about why we say “Christ”mas instead of happy holidays.  If you want to hear it, contact me and I will forward you the link. 

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

THANK YOU VETERANS!  As we remember the men & women who have served our country through the military, we say a heartfelt “thank you” to them as well as those who are presently serving!  Our country has some problems (you think?) but we have been/are being served well by the members of our military.  Take the time to express appreciation to a veteran today! 

Anna Carol Bosarge is having sinus surgery this morning.  Pray for her as she has been having some problems for a while now. 

I had an enjoyable visit with Miss Vivian & Myrtle last night.  There is a definite power in a smile as Miss Vivian can’t communicate verbally but she sure does light up the room with her smiles! 

Teddy Ray Jackson’s mother remains hospitalized and was still in a unit yesterday afternoon.  Barbara Kelley’s dad took a fall over the weekend and is also in an ICU.  Pray for all of these folks!

Terry Stephan and his team are doing well in Guatemala as they had a productive first day of ministry. 

This Sunday evening following the worship service we are going to host a “surprise” 50th birthday party for Buddy Jones!  We will have a card/money basket and other gifts will be accepted.  Will you plan on being there to help make this day special?  Thanks!  BTW – we need finger foods!  Contact Julie McGath for more info!

Miss June’s keys have been found!  They were right where she left them – imagine that! 

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service and evening activities.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will join us for Bible study, prayer, and worship. 

Once again, this post is late b/c the internet is not available at the house.  I put a call into Al and the repairman is supposed to show up today. 

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

Tropical storm Ida made landfall on Dauphin Island around 5:40AM this morning and is presently in Mobile Bay.  For us, we got a significant amount of rain and some wind gusts but there doesn’t appear to be any major damage.  I am not a “lifer” of this area but this is my first experience with such a storm this late in the hurricane season.  I thank God that all seems well in regard to this weather system.

Miss Vivian was in good spirits yesterday and was scheduled for a scan in the afternoon.  She has a swollen right lung that is puzzling the doctors.  Teddy Ray Jackson’s mother, Jean Jackson, was in ICU but was doing better.  The family seemed encouraged.  Wayne Hickman, Chuck Hodges’ stepfather, is in the hospital as he continues to battle his cancer.  Pray for these folks in the hospital and keep praying for Carla Kyser & Miss Joyce Bosarge in their respective situations too. 

Terry Stephan is leading a team from a group of Mobile Baptist Association churches to do ministry in Guatemala this week.  I am assuming they got out of Mobile okay yesterday morning.  Pray for them as they minister. 

I apologize for the lateness of this post but we did not have internet service during the night.  Murphy’s law is in full effect in my life these days! 

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

Some plant while others water but God gives the increase.  What a joy to see three professions of faith and two others join the Friendship family by transfer of letter in yesterday’s services.  To God be the glory!

God used Jeff & April McNiel and Mike & Jaclyn Weaver to lead us in a wonderful worship service last night.  I really appreciate their willingness to come and share the Word in song. 

Sherry Lavelle, the Hostess Committee, Sonny Hanson, and all those who attended did an awesome  job with the meal last night.  Thank you! 

Miss Vivian is undergoing some tests this week to help the doctors get a better understanding of how best to treat her condition.  Keep praying.

Teddy Ray Jackson’s mother, Jean Jackson, has been readmitted to the hospital so pray for her too. 

It appears that Ida will come ashore fairly weak when it comes to a hurricance but she still demands our attention.  “West is best” and it appears we will be on the west side.  It does not appear this storm will have any effect on our Wednesday services. 

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