Pastor's Blog

Bea Unrue was admitted to the hospital yesterday morning with a blood clot in her leg (left one I think – if not it is her right one!).  Zanetta Warren, daughter of Max Peacock, spent about ten days in the hospital with a staph infection but was discharged yesterday afternoon.

Lewis Jackson went back to the doctor yesterday and, if no improvement is made by Thursday, they are going to consider another plan of action.  I visited with Martha Patrick yesterday afternoon and found Janice Moreland & Louise Morris there too.  Martha still needs our prayers.

Visited with James Davis in the convalescent home yesterday afternoon.  He did some PT yesterday morning.  Keep praying for him.

Kathy Wadkins’ mother, Peggy Cummings, continues to struggle in her recovery from her broken ankle.  The swelling remains a problem whenever she doesn’t have her foot elevated.  Kayla Huffman had some oral surgery last week and that is compounded by some other physical problems she has been experiencing lately.  So, pray for Kathy’s mother & daughter.

We had 17 or so folks out for visitation last night – thank you to those who participated.  I didn’t get back to the church until 8:20PM or so which means I didn’t get to hear the reports.

I did take some time to watch some of the Grand Bay Middle School vs Alba volleyball match late yesterday afternoon.  I was just glad to be sitting behind Trish Blackwell so she could keep me informed of all the rules and such!

Found out last night that T. Garrett did not attend church this past Sunday.  However, I going to give him a pass – this time!  He went to work last Thursday morning at 7:00AM and didn’t get home until 11:00PM on Friday night.  He really should consider getting a GPS!

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

Wow, the rains came down!  The floods did not go up but we did have some rain over the weekend!  “They” say statistics show one drop of rain will keep 40 Baptists from attending a church service.  Well, our attendance yesterday was affected but not as much as I thought it might be.  The rain was coming in buckets just prior to the 8:00AM service.  All in all, we had a very good day in Bible study and worship – glory to God!  Thanks to those who continue to be faithful!

Austin Bosarge is having surgery on his hand this morning.  (I am posting late so it may already be finished)  Bro. Chris has gone to sit with the family during this procedure.

James Davis was moved to the convalescent home Friday afternoon.  They should begin his physical therapy today.  Amy Huhn’s nephew continues to improve although he is still in the hospital.  Rob Nevin was in our 10:30AM service yesterday but was unable to be with us last night.  Larry Blackwell was able to be in our services yesterday too!

Thank God for the Tabitha like persons within the Friendship family.  Have you thanked them?

It’s here!  The college football season begins this week!  Awesome!

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

P.S. – Can somebody help me find August, 2010?  It seems it was gone before it ever got here!

P.S.S. – The real reason this post is late can be summed up in two words – Dave Westhouse!

Phone conversation #1:

Hello.  Is it raining at your house? No, I just came in from finishing the mowing and weed eating.  It isn’t raining here either – guess the weather man was wrong, huh? Supposed to rain this afternoon.  Wow, our grass sure has grown a lot with all the rain we’ve had this past week! Our’s too. You got your mower back, huh? Yes.  I am just glad that you can keep it in MY barn. I am heading out the door to come mow your lawn.  Really?  You don’t have to do that.  How did you know it needed cutting?  Ann will be happy as she likes it when you mow our lawn.

Phone conversation #2:

Hello.  How are Brad’s dogs? Huh?  I am sure you saw them while you were mowing Brad’s grass today! I did but I didn’t pay any attention.  My dog is in the hospital. I heard.  I have been so busy with my sick dog that I didn’t get to mow our lawn this week.  My mind just hasn’t been with it b/c of my dog’s situation.  Deidra wants our grass cut today but I am working! Really.  Did I mention my dog is in the hospital?  If he weren’t, I would have gotten the grass cut. Whatever!

So, my today consisted of finishing our yard and then waiting on Will Reynolds for about three hours, mowing Charles & Ann’s (for Ann) yard, mowing Brad & Daphne’s (for Titus) yard, mowing Soy & Deidra’s (strictly for Deidra) yard and most of the skating rink grass before getting drenched!  I fully expect my gear box to explode tonight as I cut grass in the rain today!

Word came that James Davis was being moved to the convalescent home yesterday afternoon.  This will allow him to receive physical therapy for his rehabilitation.  Pray for James, Imelda and family.

Fishing?  Yesterday?  Whatever!  If Tony Hacker ever gives you a marine weather forecast. . .   In other words, if he says “good morning” then start looking for your pajamas!  Tony had told me all week about how “great” the weather was going to be on Friday!  (I guess he didn’t specify which Friday?)  Obviously, if we were going to fish yesterday, it would have been in the ditch in front of the house!

It appears today will be a repeat of yesterday.  Boy, Charles is going to be upset with me b/c his lawn will not get mowed.  I recently learned from a very smart man that you cannot cut the grass when it is wet so that should eliminate tomorrow.  (The wet grass is what shredded the gear box in my mower)  Wow, that Soy is a walking encyclopedia!

Saw where Faith Academy won last night while Bryant lost against Daphne.  I am going to say that Bryant’s announcer did a better job than Faith’s!

Hope to see many members of the Friendship family in our services tomorrow.  To the rest of our readers, go to church!  That includes one T. Garrett Wright!

Phil Sims called yesterday to say that the latest test on his son-in-law, Darren Haynes, revealed no cancer in his brain – praise the Lord!

Martha Patrick was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  James Davis will most likely be relocated to the Grand Bay Convalescent Home today for his physical therapy.

Mission of Hope ministry tonight at 7:00PM.  The bus leaves the church around 6:15PM.  John Meredith will be sharing the Word with the men tonight.  Pray for that service.

Chris Howell & Sherry Lavelle worked on the carpet installation in the CAB last night.  I do not know if they got it finished but I do appreciate all that has been done up to this point.

Morris Bryant & Tim Knighten looked the air conditioning situation in the choir room last night too.  I appreciate the time they gave to help us get that situation remedied although I don’t know what the final verdict will be.

We are postponing the ordination of Rob Nevin until Sunday evening, 9/12.  He is still having pain in his back and it will be best to wait just in case.

We will have a formal presentation of Bro. Robbie Howard as Pastor Emeritus on Sunday evening, 9/26.  The title emeritus is most often given to, but not exclusively limited to, members of the clergy and professors.  It means one is retired from his last position but can still do some of the duties related to that position.  In Bro. Robbie’s case, it means while he isn’t doing all of the things a pastor does on a daily basis he is still preaching.  Folks, it means he is old!  LOL!

Ladies, don’t forget the shower for Bella tomorrow morning at 10:00AM.

Saw Kevin Wadkins last night and he is still interested in starting multiple volleyball leagues.  I think he is starting a website www.kevinlovesvolleyball.com or something like that.  Rumor has it that he is building a volleyball gym at his place – wow!

It is 3:15AM and Lisa says that I have to get the groceries bought and the yard mowed before daybreak or I can’t go fishing with Tony Hacker today.  So, I gotta go!  Hope you have a great Friday with Jesus!

The Friendship family now has a Pastor Emeritus – Dr. Robbie Howard!  This title was bestowed upon Bro. Robbie last night as a joint motion came from the deacons & finance committee and was unanimously approved by the church family.  It also allows folks to contribute financially to Bro. Robbie’s ministry by simply marking “2 x 2” or Bro. Robbie on the designated side of an offering envelope.  This is a proud moment in my life as a pastor to have Bro. Robbie recognized in this way.  We will be having a more formal presentation during one of our Sunday night services in September.

145, one hundred and forty-five! That is the number of students who were present for Bible study last night!  Wow!  We need to continue to get them involved in our Sunday School and Sunday services but we are very thankful that they are coming to this time of study in the Word.  Pray for Bro. Chris, Bro. Dale, and those who work with our students.

We almost had as many in our morning service yesterday as we did last Wednesday on our eatin’ meetin’ day.  Folks, our Wednesday numbers have been really good in recent weeks and, while I thank you for being faithful, I give God the glory for what He is doing!  It is great!

Of course, my day ended with a really good time with our young adults as we continue to study Radical.  Our first three weeks have proven beneficial.  Pray for those involved in this study!

Rob Nevin was taken to the hospital yesterday morning in severe pain thinking it was being caused by kidney stones.  The doctors decided it was not kidney stones and sent him home with medication.  James Davis and Martha Patrick remain hospitalized.  The funeral service for Larry Blackwell’s grandmother will take place today in Lake Charles, LA.  Carla Kyser has been put on a new medication in hopes it will improve her appetite.

Seven more days until the 2010 college football season begins – nice!  The Braves thought they were the Dodgers last night and the Cards continue to struggle.  Do you realize that Pujols or Votto (Reds) could possibly win the triple crown in the NL this year?  Hasn’t been done in the NL since the 30’s.  I would like to see one of them do it as that takes much more than just luck.

Hope you have a great Thursday with Jesus!

I was wrong when I wrote yesterday that James Davis had been moved to another room within the hospital.  Don’t know if that has happened yet or not but do know he is still hospitalized.

Martha Patrick remains hospitalized too.  Not sure all that is wrong with her but it came after her latest heart cath.

Larry Blackwell’s grandmother passed away.  I think she lived in Louisiana.  Larry will not be physically able to attend the funeral service.  Pray for Larry’s family during this time.

Chris Howell, Jay Black, Tony Hacker, & Sherry Lavelle began the process of installing the carpet in the CAB last night.  I appreciate their work!  PLEASE NOTE – the upstairs area of the CAB is off limits to everyone tonight including the classes that normally meet in those rooms! Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

There will be a “toddler shower” brunch for Bella Wilkerson this Saturday, 8/28, beginning at 10:00AM.  It will take place in the home of Bro. Jerry & Tena Hovel.  Ladies, you are encourage to attend this “come and go” shower.

Normal day today around Friendship.  It will conclude with our young adults continuing their study of Radical.  I hope to be joined by a large number of the Friendship family members for our study times/worship services.

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

James Davis has been moved to another room within the hospital as they continue to evaluate and decide what the next step will be in his situation.  Martha Patrick is also in the hospital but I do not know the details of her situation.  Pastor Art Burroughs did well through his procedure in Birmingham yesterday and is expected to come home today.

We had a pretty good number out for our visitation last night.  Some good visits were made although I went 0 for 3 in my attempts to find anyone at home.  Thanks to each one who took part in this ministry.

The carpet in the upstairs of the CAB was removed last night.  I saw Tony Hacker, Rusty Suthoff, Chris Howell, Jay Black (can you believe it?), Chad Blakeney, and Chris Taylor (not sure if he was helping or socializing).  If there were others, I will find out and give them a shout out tomorrow!  Thanks to these guys for helping the process continue.  Word has it that the installation of the carpet will begin tonight so the end (upstairs) is definitely in sight!  Praise the Lord!

2011 mission trips sign up update – it appears that all three of our summer trips will reach capacity plus.  Members of the Friendship family must sign up by this Sunday, 8/29, in order to reserve their spot on one of the trips.  There may be openings for you later but no guarantees.  Again, the dates are June 16 – 23 (Pastor), July 14 – 21 (Bro. Jerry) and July 21 – 28 (young adults only).

Pretty big day around the Turrentine house as Hien begins college (Harvard on the Highway) and Daphne begins teaching in the nursing program in college.  Thanks to Rhea Rhea for being Hien’s wheels!

Kirk Herbstreit became my siblings favorite ESPN personality this past weekend while he completely fell off my list!  Why?  Picked AU to win the SEC west this season.  He has been around Lou Holtz way too long!  Only 9 days until the college football season begins!

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

We had a good Sunday and we give God thanks!  Our evening service was especially well attended.  I am grateful for folks who place an emphasis on attending Sunday night church services!  Thank you Friendship family!

James Davis remains hospitalized and the plans continue to be to place him in a physical rehabilitation facility for 21 days.  The process of placing him should begin today.  Pray for James and  his family.

Pastor Art Burroughs, Fulton Road Baptist, is in Birmingham today having a procedure done on his heart.  I don’t know all of the details but do know that Pastor Art has had problems for years and the time has come to take a corrective action surgically.  Pray for him, his family, and his church family.

Bro. Jerry will be leading another night of our visitation tonight beginning at 6:00PM.  You are invited to take part in this ministry.

Tony Hacker tells me that the carpet work will begin tonight at 6:00PM.  I don’t know if that is removal, installation, or both.  Of course, it has been beginning at 6:00PM for the past four or five nights so we’ll see!  By the way, I do appreciate Tony & Ryan Hatcher working last Friday night putting up the cabinets & cork boards in the rooms.

Friendship family, we are down to one week for you to sign up for one of our 2011 GRACE trips.  The students (9th – 12th) will go April 15 – 22 and the other dates are June 16 – 23 (Pastor), July 14 – 21 (Bro. Jerry), and July 21 – 28 (young adults only).

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

James Davis was taken by ambulance to a hospital yesterday afternoon.  Lisa & I visited with James & Imelda last night.  It appears he will be in the hospital for a couple of days and then moved to a rehabilitation facility.  Pray for James.

Again, I remind our ladies of the wedding shower for Morgan Rogers.  It will take place from 2:00 – 4:00PM tomorrow in the fellowship hall.  She is registered at Target and Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

Pray for Steve Morris as his beloved Cards are now 4.5 games out of first place in their division and 3 games out of the wild card race.  Are they toast?

Meanwhile, Jeanette Strahan and the Braves continue to hang tough as they lead the Phillies by 2.5 games in their division.

What really matters is that two weeks from today Bama takes the field!  Yes, Jr., I am ready for some football!