Pastor's Blog

No major updates on those who are battling affliction/cancer except to say that Miss Vinnie Brewer’s daughter, Shirley Nelson, got a good report yesterday as a result of her heart cath.  Roy Blodgett got an excellent report regarding his tumors – got them all and no treatments necessary!  Praise the Lord!

Karla Cooper’s uncle, Lowell Howard, had heart by-pass surgery yesterday but I don’t have an update.  Talked to Karla this morning and her uncle did well as he received four by-passes and was taken off the ventilator last night.  Awesome!

I do want to remind the ladies of the Friendship family of the wedding shower for Morgan Rogers this Sunday afternoon, 8/22, from 2:00 – 4:00PM in the fellowship hall.  I think she is registered at Greer’s in the Bayou & Bay Hardware but you had better check to make sure!

Soy’s mother, “Myrna from Smyrna”, leaves today going back to Atoka, TN.  It has been good to have her here i.e. Soy has spent time with her meaning he has left me alone!  I suspect he will be back around here tomorrow wanting me to help him ride his bicycle, build things with his Legos, whatever!  O my!  By the way, Soy’s dad, Curtis, will have surgery on Monday so please pray for him.

Plans are a go for our student ministry GRACE trip to Guatemala the dates of Friday, April 15, through Friday, April 22, 2011.  This will be for high school (9th – 12th) students only and Bro. Chris will select the chaperones based on need, involvement with the student ministry, et cetera.  Students, sign up now using the forms in the foyer of the auditorium.

Remember, members of the Friendship family have until next Sunday, 8/29, to sign up “first” for the Summer 2011 GRACE trips.  There may be an opportunity later but others will most likely use all open slots.  Time is of the essence!

Can’t mow grass today as my mower went down last Saturday.  Had it placed in the “mower hospital” this past Monday and had a phone consultation with the “mower doctor” yesterday.  Bad news – gear box destroyed!  Great news – under warranty!  Actually, it is called grace!   Praise the Lord!

So, either today or tomorrow Charles expects me to mow his grass using his mower.  He says that he is going to give me a price break on the rental since my mower is in the shop.  Please don’t tell him that the repairs are under warranty or he will up the price of rental on his mower!

Are the Cards toast?  3.5 games out now.  The Braves continue to impress me!  The NCAA is out to get Bama – Hill didn’t qualify after having been declared eligible?  Please!  Does anyone know how much it cost to “rent” a vehicle to drive from Hartselle, AL to El Tejar, Guatemala?  Have a couple of friends who are going to need that service in October!

I pray that you will have a great Friday/weekend with Jesus.  Go to church – even you Dave Westhouse!

P.S. – Bret, got the screws!  Thanks!

God blessed, you came, and “Potluck with the Pastor” was a success!  Lisa, Daphne, Ann & Bro. Jerry did a great job of having everything ready for our dining pleasure as soon as the service was over.  You brought some delicious vegetables which was the proverbial “icing on the cake!”  We had our largest attendance ever (I think) for a Wednesday morning service and the fellowship around the table was sweet.  So, plans have been made to host our second “PWTP” on Wednesday, September 15.  It will be a fish fry (Delta catfish) and Phil Sims will be the chief fish fryer!  More details to come!

Great food was the order of the day as we finished the day with our 8:00PM Bible study at Soy & Deidra’s house.  Soy’s mother, “Myrna from Smyrna”, cooked a delicious Asian meal with egg rolls, chicken on a stick, noodles, pine apple (uncooked) and cassava cake.  Add one of Diane Bryant’s awesome cakes and it was an great meal!  Thank you Myrna for doing such an outstanding job of feeding that crew!  BTW, the second session of our Radical Bible study went very well too!

We had 125 students present for Bible study last night!  Wow!  Our Wednesday night numbers have been really good for the past two weeks.  Glory to God!

Pray for the Van Vels and Massey families today as they go through the respective funeral services for Dan (Michigan) & Ronny (Huntsville).

James Davis is at home but is not doing well physically so pray for him.

Miss Vinnie Brewer’s daughter, Shirley Nelson, will have a heart cath done today in Nashville, TN.  Pray that all goes well.

Pattie Suthoff posted a comment with an update on Gage Hudson yesterday.  He is doing better but certainly still needs our prayers.

Whitney Bryant is having a full body scan which is a part of her normal check up.  I am not sure if that takes place today but pray that all goes well.

Lord willing, tonight at 6:00PM the process of installing the carpet in the upstairs of the CAB begins.  I saw John & Tammy Curl finishing the painting yesterday morning.  I plan on spending today getting some of the items i.e. cabinets, marker boards, dry erase boards, et cetera that are needed to finish out some of the rooms.

Friendship family – mission trip sign up for Summer 2011 – now is the time!

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

Today, we will try something that we have never done before but I have wanted to do for some time now as we are having “Potluck with the Pastor” immediately following the morning service.  My wife has graciously agreed to miss her time at the Women’s Resource Center in order to be here to help get everything ready and to serve as the hostess for the meal.  Lisa & I are providing the meat (roast & ham), rolls, drinks, & dessert (cobbler & ice cream).  We are simply asking the others in attendance to bring the vegetables – enough for whoever is with you plus one!  My mother-in-law, Ann, is giving Lisa an assist and I appreciate her help.  Join us for worship at 10:00AM and a meal at 11:00AM.  We are beating the community center price!

Miss Linda Jackson called yesterday to say that Bro. Lewis is having some physical problems related to his surgical procedure of last Wednesday.  Pray for him.

Daphne called yesterday to tell me that Coach Ronnie Massey passed away early Tuesday morning.  His funeral service will take place in Huntsville tomorrow afternoon and Bro. Johnny Tucker will be helping preach that service.  Pray for his wife and the family during this difficult time.

The funeral service for Dan Van Vels will also take place tomorrow in Hamilton, Michigan.  Pray for Gloria and her family as they walk through this valley.  The family has graciously asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to GRACE Ministries.  What a kind and thoughtful thing to do!

As far as our services go, we are set for a normal day/night.  My prayer is that a large number of the Friendship family members will be present.

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

Larry Blackwell did fine through his surgery yesterday morning and was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  Pray for him to have a quick recovery.

Leslie Williams e-mailed to say that her maternal uncle, Doyce Richardson, passed away Sunday afternoon.  He had been diagnosed with terminal cancer but his passing was much sooner than anticipated.  A dear friend of Leslie’s mother, Dora Graham, also passed Sunday.  Pray for Leslie’s mother as she travels to Texas for these funeral services and deals with these losses.

I have spoken to a few of Dan Van Vels friends via the phone but haven’t been able to speak to his wife, Gloria, yet.  Pray for Gloria and her family.

I was called to the hospital last night just before our visitation began.  I cannot share any of the details but ask that you join me in praying for this unspoken need.

Willie Johnson finished the sheetrock on the bannister yesterday and John Curl/Kenny Lingle will paint it tonight.  Then, it will be ready for Chris Howell to begin laying the carpet.  Folks, we are getting there!

Bobby Henley is smiling today as the Nationals signed the first pick of the MLB draft, Bryce Harper, to a contract last night.  He got $9.9 million for five years including a $6.25 million signing bonus.  He is projected to be in the minors for a couple of years which means he will be under Bobby’s watchful eye!

I told you the Dodgers were toast.  Last night, they were leading the Braves 3 – 1 going into the bottom of the ninth and got beat 4 – 3 after having been blasted 13 – 1 the night before after having blown a 9 – 2 lead against the Phillies over the weekend.  Steve Morris, stop smiling – your Cards have dropped back to second place behind the Reds!

What really matters in the sports world is that the college football season begins September 2 and Bama plays their first game on 9/4.

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

Tom Compagner called around noon today to tell me that Dan Van Vels passed away this morning.  I realize that most of the members of the Friendship family did not know Dan but he & his wife, Gloria, are faithful participants/supporters of GRACE Ministries.  They were signed up for the February 2011 GRACE trip.  Dan would have been 60 years old on September 15.

Pray for Gloria and the family as they walk through this valley.  My heart hurts for them.  Our loss is heaven’s gain but death sure stings!

Wow, we had a really blessed day in our services yesterday.  First, I want to say a huge “thank you” to each member of the Friendship family who attended the 2:00PM service.  What an encouragement!  Our goal has been to have 25 folks in that service and yesterday saw us have 27 Spanish folks with 3 of them following the Lord in believer’s baptism – praise the Lord!  Again, I thank those who work in this ministry week after week.  Thanks to Bro. Benny & Bro. Dale for the pinatas.

It was a joy to see Chad Blakeney join the Friendship family by transfer of letter during our 10:30AM service.  The torrential rains probably kept some folks at home last night but we still had a nice attendance.  Thank God for folks who are faithful!

Larry Blackwell will have surgery this morning.  Roy Blodgett will see the doctor this week as they begin to map out a plan of action to treat his cancer.  Shawn Felps continues to recover from his surgery.  We still have a number of folks battling cancer.  Pray without ceasing.

I give the Lord thanks for blessing Pastor Jack Bailey and the folks at Danville Baptist with their annual block party this past Saturday night.  It is my understanding that they had a blessed time of ministry.

Friendship family – now (August) is the time to sign up for a Summer 2011 GRACE trip.  Sign up sheets are in the foyer of the auditorium.

“Potluck with the Pastor” takes place this Wednesday, 8/18, at 11:00AM.  You bring the vegetables!

Speaking of eating, it is corn beef hash day at the Lighthouse so you can (Lord willing) find me there during the lunch hour.

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

I went by and prayed with Roy Blodgett before his surgery this morning.  Jerry & Gloria Whitmore (deacon & wife) arrived and I left for another hospital.  Gloria left me a voice mail at 8:36AM saying Roy did good through the surgery.

I did visit with Shawn Felps too.  He was in pain but was wanting to go home today.

I spent the rest of the morning with Sonny Bates.  According to the doctor, he had a “false positive” on his stress test meaning that four zero problems with his heart, arteries, et cetera.  Praise the Lord!

Meanwhile, over in Mississippi, T.C. Phillips had surgery on his knee.  He had completely torn his ACL and they made him a new one using his hamstring.  He is at home recovering.

By the way, the very first phase of construction on our house was started today.  Okay, so it is only removing trees but you have to start somewhere.  Maybe we can be in by next weekend?

Sue Blodgett’s husband, Roy, will have surgery this morning.  Plans call for them to remove the three tumors from his bladder.  Pray that all goes well.

Sonny Bates recently failed a nuclear stress test so they are doing a heart cath on him this morning.  Pray that the doctors can get a clear look and pray that all will be well.

Shawn Felps did well through his surgery yesterday and remains hospitalized.

Happy 50th wedding anniversary to Arnold & Jeanette Strahan today!  (Of course, it will be a bit sad for Jeanette as she is probably mourning the fact the Chipper Jones is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury!)  At any rate, I hope Arnold & Jeanette have a great day!

I remind the ladies of the brunch/baby shower for Amy Reynolds tomorrow morning at 10:30AM at the parsonage.

Chad Blakeney, Leslie Hacker, Tony Hacker, Jerry Whitmore & Raymond Wilkinson receive a special thanks this morning for hanging the sheetrock on one side of the bannister in the CAB last night.  Willie Johnson will come in today and do the mud, tape and finishing.  By the way, Danny Lewis gets an assist for providing the drills for last night’s work.

The Summer of 2010 is over for GRACE Ministries as the folks from Georgetown CRC arrived back in the States last night.  Wow, what a summer it has been!  Glory to God!

We celebrate one year of doing the Spanish ministry this Sunday at 2:00PM.  Again, my hope is that the staff members, deacons, and other church leaders will attend this service.  We are going to baptize as a part of that service.

Hien has a job!  What?  Hien has a job!  Starts tonight!  Look out world!

Nanette Fontenot wants to begin meeting with me once a week to discuss Kristin & Josh’s wedding – what?  I have never had a mother of the bride to make such a request.  They are getting married next year!

Hospitals and grass cutting on the agenda for me today.  Soy’s mother, Myrna from Smyrna, arrives from Memphis this morning.

I pray that you will have a great weekend with Jesus.  Go to church this Sunday – morning & evening!

We had a nice Wednesday – praise the Lord!  Our day began with a strong attendance in our morning service and ended with a strong attendance in our young adults Bible study with an even stronger attendance in the 7:00PM hour.  I don’t know all of the totals but do know we had over 100 students present.  The greatest report is that two students prayed to receive Jesus as their personal Savior during the service last night!  Praise the Lord!

Shawn Felps, Donnie & Marisa’s son, will have surgery on his neck today.  Pray for this procedure to go well.

Steve Morris read the plea for help with removing the paneling and came early yesterday morning and took care of that.  Not bad for a Cardinals fan.  He was “rewarded” as the Cardinals swept the Reds last night to move into first place in their division.  Tonight at 6:00PM we will have some men hanging sheetrock as the next step.

The shower/brunch for Amy Reynolds takes place this Saturday morning, 8/14, beginning at 10:30AM.  Ladies, this is a church wide shower as it is Will & Amy’s first baby.  It will take place in the parsonage and is a come & go event.  It’s a girl (Trophia Willietta or something like that) and Amy is registered at Target, Babies R Us, and Bay Hardware.

We will celebrate the one year anniversary of our Spanish ministry this Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:00PM.  My prayer is that our staff, deacons, and other church leaders will be present to show support to this ministry and those who are a part of it.  We will be observing the ordinance of baptism as a part of this worship experience.

I am hearing good things about the “potluck with the pastor” set for next Wednesday, 8/18, immediately following the morning service.  For this initial time, Lisa and I are providing the meat (possum), the drinks (water), and the dessert (Little Debbie cakes) and ask that others bring the vegetables.  We’ll see how it goes and proceed based on the response.

A busy and productive summer for GRACE Ministries comes to a close today as the final team (Georgetown CRC) leaves for home.  That shout you will hear around 10:00AM our time will be our staff in Guatemala saying “thank God and Delta they’re gone!”  God has really blessed us with a great year thus far.

It is a little after 3:00AM and Lisa has told me the yard had best be mowed before daybreak so I have to go.  I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.

A lot going on today – Lewis Jackson is having a surgical procedure this morning to blast a kidney stone that has been bothering  him for over a year.  Martha Patrick is having a heart cath.  Laurie Chandler’s son, Jeff, and grandson, Wyatt, are both having a surgical procedure done today by an ENT doctor.

Liz Whalen e-mailed to say that her mother did receive a chemo treatment yesterday although she is weak.  Miss Joyce is a fighter!  Word cam from Jake Freeland’s dad that Jake is doing much better.  Sue Blodgett’s husband, Roy, will have surgery Friday morning.

I want to say “thank you” to those who ministered to the Smyly family yesterday by providing a meal.  The Lord knows who you are and I appreciate your service to Him!

Rachel DeYoung is a friend from Michigan and she has been with us on several GRACE trips.  She graduated college this past May.  She moved to Honduras this past Monday to teach school for a year.  I received the following in an e-mail from her: Thank you for the impact that you have made on my life. I was inspired by your servant heart and love for the people of Guate. I will never forget mixing C-mint with you! Guatemala sparked a passion inside of me. I am now living a dream that I’ve had of teaching overseas. God used GRACE Ministries to help place this young lady on the mission field – praise the Lord and thank you for being a part of GRACE!  (By the way, Rachel was a very hard worker – much more so than Joe David Bailey & Jason Bowling.  Come to think of it, a lot of the girls/women on our trips have worked harder than JD & JB!)

Gerald Cochran is a friend from many years ago and is also a friend to GRACE Ministries.  He is a member of Danville Baptist.  He suffered a heart attack yesterday that the doctors described as almost massive.  He is in a hospital in Huntsville.  Pray for Gerald and his family.

We need some immediate help in the CAB.  We need someone to remove the paneling from the inside of the bannister/railing upstairs and any paneling nails from the 2 X 4’s.  This needs to be done by tomorrow night.

I will be going for a record on September 18.  Kel Eyler and Morgan Rogers will be getting married at 4:00PM.  The Bama vs Duke game kicks off at 2:30PM so halftime should come around 4:00PM.  We will begin the wedding with the commencement of halftime and be finished by the beginning of the second half.  Morgan probably isn’t going to be happy about this but Kel will be cool with it!

Next Wednesday is “potluck with the pastor” immediately following the 10:00AM service.  Details in the service today.

Regular schedule today.  Pray for me as I prepare to teach “Radical” to our young adults tonight.  The prep time is pretty extensive.

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