Pastor's Blog

I visited with Jesus Segura yesterday morning and he was in a lot of pain/discomfort.  They placed two screws in his back per the x-rays shown to me by his wife, Violet.  As I was in the hall leaving the hospital, Becky Hatcher was going to visit and taking some “goodies” to Violet and the family.  Lisa will visit them today.  I appreciate these two & Rita for helping minister to this family.  Others may be doing likewise but these are the ones I am aware of who are helping. 

Miss June Bailey (Pastor Jack’s wife/boss) did well through her surgery and came home yesterday. 

Hilda Gunter’s sister, Nelva Huff, suffered a stroke and is in the hospital.  It appears to be a serious situation. 

My brother, Eddie, has had some more complications that have seemingly set him back a bit. 

Pam Lewis will have surgery tomorrow.  Everyone else on our prayer list is basically the same as far as I know. 

The Moline CRC team leaves very late tonight bound for Detroit and then on to Guatemala tomorrow.  Pray for them as they travel and then do ministry using the L.G. Camp, Jr. Mission House as their base.  Dave & Donna Westhouse will lead this team and do such a nice job.  The folks of Moline are such gracious supporters of GRACE Ministries.  We are blessed!

Edwin Williams and I are in the discussion stage of helping provide transportation for our senior adults who want to attend our Sunday evening services.  More details coming.  I appreciate Edwin’s concern. 

Don’t forget that Archie Watkins, formerly of The Inspirations, will be with us this Sunday evening as he ministers in song. 

I was disappointed as the endodontist only did half of my root canal yesterday.  The actual root canal didn’t hurt but paying to leave almost made me pass out!  However, Dr. Tommy Hannahan does a great job!  Plus, he is a Bama fan!  (I’m thinking gold tooth with a script “A” on it!)

Lane Kiffin has left TN and is going to USC.  Mike Parker in Guatemala has passed out in despair!  Did you see where the students set fires on the UT campus?  They were going to “block” him from actually leaving!  Please!  Our society has gone crazy when it comes to sports!  I really don’t care what happens at UT but I was surprised at this move.  Kiffin is changing coaching jobs quicker than Baptists change churches – LOL!

Normal Wednesday around here with the morning service (why doesn’t Danville Baptist have a Wednesday morning service?) and the evening activities.  Hope to see the members of the Friendship family present. 

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

P.S. – Rex, please let Pastor Jack know that you read his devotionals and use them word for word in your choir rehearsal devotions.  (Personally, I think he should add a “Juice with Jack” to share the latest prayer concerns i.e. gossip from Danville!) 

P.S.S. – Mark Mast dogged Al in his most recent comment.  It has been cold but if “global warming” weren’t in effect think of how cold it would have been!

Miss Vivian arrived home around noon yesterday.  I visited with her late yesterday afternoon and it seemed “normal” around there with family members present and supper being cooked by Cecil & Myrtle.  Actually, “normal” would have had Miss Vivian cooking but it was close enough.  It is so good to see her at home talking and enjoying her family & friends.  What a blessing!

Jesus Segura did well through his surgery.  I appreciate Rita & Becky’s ministry to the family.  I will visit him today. 

Keep praying for those folks battling cancer – Carla Kyser, Miss Joyce Bosarge, Pelham McGehee, and others. 

Bobby Stork’s aunt passed away and that service was held yesterday as was the service for Jerry Dickerson’s mother.  Pray for those families. 

My brother, Eddie, is improving.  He sees the doctor again Friday and Monday.  Keep praying for Bro. Louis Reyer.  Pam Lewis has surgery on Thursday. 

Pastor Jack Bailey’s wife, June, had surgery yesterday morning.  I don’t know the results as Pastor Jack, Joe David, Jamie, Sue, and others are of no help in giving updates!  I am assuming she did well.  Pray for her. 

Rochelle Genzink is doing well with her pregnancy.  She & Ryan have a website (www.genzinktrio.blogspot.com) in order for folks to keep up with the progress of the triplets and to know how to pray for them. 

Louise Mason arrived back in Guatemala late last week and the King’s do so today.  So, we are back at full strength as our first team (Moline CRC) arrives Thursday.  Speaking of that, our missions committee is asked to meet tomorrow night at 6:00PM in my office. 

Mark McGwire used PED’s and HGH during his baseball playing days.  I don’t think that admission yesterday caught many (any?) folks off guard but I got sick of the ESPN reports – enough already! 

Gene & Gena Davis finally sent an e-mail owning up to the fact that Bama “whipped” the Longhorns last Thursday night.  I don’t know if it was congratulatory or just an admission but I will take it as congratulatory.  Roll Tide!   

I get to go have a root canal this morning!  I have only been putting this one off since early November. 

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

First, for our readers in Canada, Michigan, New York, et cetera, we are dealing with “extreme” cold temperatures here as the mercury dropped to 17 degrees in Mobile this morning!  So, no more whining from “you guys” about your “cold” temperatures! 

We had a good Sunday in spite of the colder than normal temperature for us.  We thank God for the salvation decision in the 10:30AM service.  God is faithful and I am grateful! 

One of the men who faithfully attends our Spanish service will have surgery this morning.  His name is Jesus Segura.  Please pray for him. 

It is a miracle day!  After approximately four month and one half months in the hospital, Miss Vivian Ladnier is coming home this morning – hallelujah!  There were times when the doctors said she wouldn’t live through the night but now she is heading back to Grand Bay!  Amazing!

Bro. Louis Reyer suffered a stroke in his good eye this past Friday.  So, he basically is limited to one eye that can only see shapes.  His attitude is great and he is trusting God.  Pray for him!

My brother, Eddie, is out of the hospital.  They “nicked” is bladder while doing surgery thus the reason for his problems.  Hopefully, he is on the mend.  (He is definitely the “weaker” of the three brothers but don’t tell mama as she thinks he is Clark Kent!) 

Jerry Dickerson is a member of Wade Baptist Church in Mississippi but he has been leading the singing for our Sunday morning service at the convalescent home for the past 17 years.  His mother passed away and they will have her funeral service today at 2:00PM from the O’Bryant funeral home in Pascagoula.  Pray for Jerry & his family.

This past Saturday saw the funeral services for J.B. Miller (Edna’s cousin) and Mrs. Kapenga (Dean’s mother) so please keep praying for those families. 

Dave & Donna Westhouse will lead a team from the Moline Christian Reformed Church to Guatemala this Thursday to do ministry for a week.  These folks are great supporters of GRACE Ministries and I ask that you pray for them as they make those last minute preparations.

Bret Hart, thanks for taking care of the screws.  You are a great guy in spite of being a Hog! 

Pastor Bob Harvey of West Auburn Baptist sent his congratulations to the Tide as did Mike Parker in Guatemala who is an avid UT fan.  Ross Genzink (Michigan fan) did likewise.  I am still waiting on my nephew Cody to send his congratulatory message!

Gotta go to Wal Mart to see if that trophy shows up today!     

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

It is just before 2:00AM (Alabama time) as I write this entry.  Roll Tide!  Yesterday was a great day to be a Tide fan!  We arrived in Orange County at 11:45AM but sat on the plane until 12:30PM because our gate was occuppied.  We went to the hotel to check in and get the FedEx package which had been delivered with our tickets.  (Dutch Genzink hasn’t provided anything for us – are you kidding?)  We then made it to the Rose Bowl stadium by 2:30PM and got ready for the game. 

The excitement in the pre-game stuff was high!  The first half (second quarter) was good and ended on a positive note.  The second half got a little concerning but all is well that ends well and Bama is once again the national champions!  Roll Tide!  By the way, we sat amongst a million Texas fans.  I will have to say that they are loyal to their team.

I appreciate the folks who have called or sent text of congratulations.  Pastor Rick Evans, who is an avid AU fan, sent a text of congratulations which I thought was very kind of him. 

The only “downer” of the whole day was when Morris ran onto the field.  I don’t think they showed it on television but he was dressed in tights and a mask.  Can’t take Morris any where! 

Folks, football is merely a game.  I very much recognize that but I do enjoy watching the Tide play. 

My brother, Eddie, was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  Something is not right regarding his recent surgery.  Pray for him.

Going to bed.  We should arrive home tomorrow night.  Upward basketball takes place on Saturday.  Hope to see the members of the Friendship family in church on Sunday. 

I pray that you will have a great weekend 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.

Karen McGriff will have inpatient surgery today shortly after noon so pray for her.   

Merwyn Gunter took a fall yesterday morning and thought he may have had a stroke but the initial tests didn’t show that.  I am assuming that he came home from the hospital after the tests were complete as I did not hear differently. 

Miss Vivian Ladnier & Miss Kathleen Henderson remain hospitalized.  I got a chance to visit Travis Northcutt’s grandmother, Mrs. Phillips, yesterday and she goes back to the doctor this Friday.  She has finished her treatments but is having some problems at this time.  Carla Kyser & Miss Joyce Bosarge continue their respective battles against cancer too. 

Christy Wynn’s sister, Candace, gave birth to a stillborn baby on Monday so pray for her and the family. 

The visitation with the Brittany Gates family will take place tonight from 6:00 – 9:00PM at Cloverdale Baptist.  Pray for her parents, James & Angela, along with her grandparents, Pastor Harold & Miss Judy McInnis.  The service is tomorrow at 1:00PM from Cloverdale. 

GT got beat last night.  That makes me o for 2 this week in predicting the winners.  Troy should be worried about tonight’s game based on that fact.  Maybe I should pick Texas for tomorrow night’s game?  Can’t! 

To answer the question from yesterday’s comment – he used to live in Japan and when he moved to the States the kids in his class called him soy sauce.  It eventually was shortened to Soy.  I have other names for him but don’t get me started – LOL! 

We are on a regular schedule today with the morning service and evening activities.  It is going to be “colder” than normal but I do pray a large number of the Friendship family will be present. 

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

I visited with Miss Vivian Ladnier last night.  That was the first time I have seen her since 12/23.  She was asleep but woke up  long enough to tell me that she was glad I was back home.  She also said that she hopes to go home in a few days.  When she does, what a miracle!  Keep praying!

Miss Kathleen Henderson has been in the hospital since Christmas Day.  She is in good spirits and is content to stay until she is deemed well by the doctors.  Pray for Miss Kathleen.

J.B. Miller, Edna’s first cousin, and Evangelist David Miller’s brother, has been in the hospital since 12/18.  He is not doing well.  Pray for him and his wife, Mary. 

Dean & Jan Kapenga are great friends/supporters of GRACE Ministries.  Dean’s mother is very low physically as she is battling cancer.  The hospice folks don’t think her earthly life will last much longer.  Pray for her and the family. 

Keep praying for Carla Kyser, Miss Joyce Bosarge, and the others who are battling cancer. 

My brother, Eddie, continues to have problems with his recovery from surgery.  I always knew he was the weaker one in the family!  Sue’s mother, Sarah Reeder, is in the hospital.  Pray for them!

Soy & Deidra gave me my 50th birthday present this past Saturday.  So?  The problem is that my birthday is in May!  I just hope they don’t have ESPN or know something that I don’t know!  Talk about making a guy feel good!  I drove around looking at cemeterys yesterday!  (Lisa is going to put me in the Clark cemetery regardless of my wishes!) 

I picked TCU to win last night as did most folks.  Boise State played well and deserved to win.  I am concerned about the Bama game as most folks seem to think Bama will win.  Texas is not to be taken lightly. 

I will go ahead and take GT in tonight’s game and Troy tomorrow night. 

Folks, the time is drawing short for you to give me those NC game tickets!

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

We had a good first Sunday of 2010 in spite of some “cold” temperatures for our neck of the woods.  I thank God for His blessings!

Miss Kathleen Henderson (Joey Switzer’s grandmother) remains hospitalized.  Miss Vivian Ladnier remains hospitalized as well but she is making remarkable progress and “could” be on her way home in the not to distant future.  Miss Bea Unrue is at home recovering from her surgery.  Pray for these ladies.

Mr. Bryan Kirkland passed away this past Friday, 1/1.  The visitation with the Kirkland family will take place from Serenity Funeral Home tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM and the service will be held tomorrow, 1/5, from the funeral home chapel at noon.  Pray for the Kirkland family. 

Two young ladies, Sarah McGuff, 19, & Brittany Gates, 18, were involved in a fatal automobile accident this past Friday, 1/1.  Brittany is the granddaughter of Pastor Harold & Miss Judy McInnis (Cloverdale Baptist).   The arrangements are incomplete as far as I know but I do ask you to join me in praying for these families. 

Karen McGriff is scheduled to have surgery this Wednesday so pray for her. 

I haven’t gotten an update on my brother, Eddie, but I hope he is better in his recovery. 

It is “back to work” for many of us which signifies being back in the normal routine.  Our girls begin their second semester of school at Faith Academy today and the public schools (students) begin tomorrow. 

Morris Bryant and I will attend the FCA prayer breakfast this morning.  I am up early trying to make sure that I get my cologne on!  (You shouldn’t miss church on Sunday nights!)   

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

We arrived home safe & sound at 1:35AM today.  That was exactly six hours after we touched down in Atlanta.  We thank the Lord for His watchcare over us in our travels.

It is about 6:30PM on Friday, 1/1, and, once again, we are 30,000 feet or so in the air.  I decided to reflect on the day and will not post tomorrow unless something important needs to be shared with the Friendship family. 

Lisa, Deidra, Hien, Dana, & Gina hit the MOA running at 10:00AM.  Lisa & Deidra shopped until 3:30PM while the girls entertained themselves at the inside theme park the entire time. 

Back at the hotel, I was left to tend to Soy.  My plans were to watch some AU football.  (Congratulations to the Tigers on their victory!)  Soy wanted to go swimming since the hotel had an indoor pool.  However, he was “afraid” to go by himself so I got to go sit by the pool and watch him swim.  He even swam for a few minutes without his floaties!  He then found out about the theme park at the mall so we headed over there after he ate his Happy Meal.  He loved the carrousel and wasn’t afraid to ride by himself while the girls rode the roller coaster.  Who needs Titus when you have Soy? 

Meanwhile, my other son-in-law, Brad, informed me last night via Daphne that he has a ticket to the NC game next Thursday.  He joins Chris & Nicole as being on my list!   

Our Upward basketball resumes tomorrow as does our RA basketball.  You can check out the RA game times on this site.  Upward begins at 8:00AM. 

Why are men better patients than women?  I merely use my brother, Eddie, as an example? 

Why are the staff members i.e. Joe David at Danville Baptist dancing?  Next news you know they will be going to the picture show and playing cards!  Jamie Ellen, you should be ashamed of yourself!   

Word is that Sinclair & Mediacom are going to have a seven day extension which means the NC game will be on televison in Grand Bay – hooray! 

I am glad that AU won today for the SEC.  Hope Florida does the same tonight.  Wish that LSWho and UT would have won too!  (Okay, I really don’t care that UT got beat but I am trying to be PC) 

This entry has already been too long.  Rex Looney, find the game tickets, get the plane tickets, hotel room and rental car and I will take care of the food. 

I pray that you will have weekend!