Pastor's Blog

Our fourth day (Wednesday) of our trip through Mexico was another long day of travel.  It was actually made longer simply because we could not seemingly find our way out of Vera Cruz.  We “lost” several hours just trying to get out but we finally arrived in Tapachula before dark.  It was way too late to try and get across the border so we got hotel rooms and settled in for the night.  The rains were torrential and the hotel staff literally opened the restaurant and cooked supper for us.  We went to bed ready to get up and cross the border into Guatemala early the next morning – not so fast my friend!

I do remember that the drive through southern Mexico allowed us to see some absolute beautiful aspects of God’s creation.

Diane Bryant’s brother, Wes Brannon, had a heart attack this past Friday night and is in the CCU in a local hospital.  He had no previous problems but I do know they found one artery was completely blocked.

Homer Perkins remains hospitalized.  Lewis Jackson was discharged from the hospital on Friday.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  We welcome Zanetta Warren into the Friendship family by transfer of letter.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory.  The ordination service for Rob Nevin was blessed too.

We are having a work night in the CAB beginning at 6:00PM.  We need to run base, hang door signs, hang rock on the west end of the bannister, hang some marker boards, clean out the remaining six rooms needing carpet, clean out the storage room on the bottom floor in order to begin the renovation process on the lower level.  So, we need folks to help and they need to bring shop vacs and other tools.  (This work night is for anyone except those involved in the visitation ministry which also begins at 6:00PM)

Our second “potluck with the pastor” takes place this Wednesday, 9/15, immediately following the morning service.  Our goal is 50 in attendance and you are asked to bring vegetables and dessert.  We will provide chicken, drinks, and bread.

The wedding of Morgan Rogers and Kel Eyler takes place this Saturday, 9/18, at 4:00PM.  All members of the Friendship family are invited to attend.  Actually, my plans are for the wedding to begin at halftime of the Bama game and be over before the second half kick off.  LOL!

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

We had an uneventful Tuesday (day three) in our drive through Mexico as we left Tampico and stopped in Vera Cruz for the night.  Uneventful except for the fact that God did more miracles in our midst.  We had been warned of the various “check points” in Mexico with vehicles being unloaded, items confiscated, and bribes being demanded.  We were stopped two or three times on Tuesday but then, as the vans approached a check point, they would simply wave us through!  We were never stopped again until we crossed the border into Guatemala – a God thing!  Do you know our God is an awesome God?  He is!

Of course, 9/11/01 figures prominently in all of our minds today.  We remember and pray for the families who lost loved ones on that tragic day.

On 9/11/00 the eight “bubbas” got up early and headed toward Matamoros.  My most vivid memory is getting into Brownsville and going to a mall to eat at a Luby’s restaurant.  The other seven guys went to eat but I could not eat because I had just realized that the titles to the vans (still in the name of Sage Avenue Baptist Church) had been signed in the wrong place.  Translated – no longer a valid title.  I went to an office supply store and bought a white out marker and promptly marked out the signatures.  Stan Strickler then signed them correctly but we still had the white out on the titles.

We stopped to purchase the required insurance and were told that we would not be allowed into Mexico without titles in our names.  The first guy at the border said the same thing.  However, thanks to God and the boss saw things differently.  I had been told by a student minister in a Texas church to get a letter from SABC stating they knew what we were doing with the vans.  That letter is what God used to get us through customs.  God knows what we need before we know what we need!  We then drove on to Tampico where we stopped for the night.  By the way, no mention of the doctored titles.

We knew God had blessed us and we went to bed resting in that comfort.

It was 10 years ago this afternoon at 3:00PM that eight guys (Sonny Bates, Gene Davis, Mac McGriff, Harold Morris, Stan Strickler, Larry Whitehurst, Larry Wilson and I) left the church parking lot in three vans headed to Guatemala.  Harold, Stan & Larry Whitehurst in the dark blue van; Sonny, Larry Wilson & me in the red van; Gene & Mac in the light blue van (Mac drew the short straw.  LOL!)  What a trip!  Our first pit stop was around the Stennis Space Center in MS as we appeared to be guzzling fuel.  Thank God for Mac as he figured out the problem which was not an excessive use of fuel.  Next we stopped in Hammond, LA for fuel and supper (I fondly remember Stan telling me that we did not need to eat supper i.e. too much money & time!)  We finally arrived on the other side of Houston, TX around midnight and got a hotel and slept for a few hours.  I hope to give a brief recap of each day over the next six days.  Perhaps some of the guys can add some comments to help remember some things.

A lot has taken place in the past ten years including the passing of Harold Morris & Stan Strickler.  I have lost touch with Larry Wilson and Gene Davis has moved to Texas.  Sonny, Mac, & Larry are still actively involved in our church.

My main memory of the first day is that Frances did not show up.  He was our “ace in the hole” as he was from Guatemala, was bilingual and took vehicles through Mexico regularly.  Stan had met him on a previous flight from Guatemala.  God told me that morning while I was preaching that Frances was not coming and that He (God) would be our source.  So, eight “bubbas” with basically no Spanish speaking skills (Larry Wilson knew some) headed out simply trusting God.  Wow, what a ride!

Lewis Jackson & Homer Perkins are both in a local hospital.  Lewis is doing well in his recovery but the real truth will be (or has been) told this morning.  If all is well, he can go home today.  Homer was placed in the hospital on Wednesday afternoon and is having trouble breathing & swallowing.  Pray for these men!

Les & Tony Hacker, Billy Auld, Josh Bradley, Jerry Whitmore, Raymond & Jace Wilkinson, Josh Woods, Danny Lewis and Sammy Bowden are to be thanked for helping hang the sheetrock yesterday morning.  The order got messed up so they didn’t get to finish but did all they could do.  I appreciate these guys and their willingness to serve.

Ladies, remember the baby shower for Laurie Chandler’s daughter, Sharon, tomorrow morning at 10:30AM in the fellowship hall.  She is registered at Target.

Ordained men, remember the ordination council for Rob Nevin this Sunday, 9/12, at 4:00PM in the auditorium.

We need folks to step up and volunteer to help with the Upward basketball ministry this year.  Sign up forms are in the foyer of the auditorium.

Congratulations to Auburn and the Saints on their respective victories last night.  I am not a fan of any of the four teams that were playing so I found the games to be somewhat boring i.e low scoring.  I watched much more of the college game than I did of the pro game.

Lord willing, Soy, Dana, Gina, & I will travel to Vance, AL tonight and spend some time with my nephew, Josh, and his family tomorrow before going to the Bama game.  You ask, why am I taking Dana & Gina to such a big game?  I ask, why am I taking Soy?

Changed my routine as I went to Walmart for grocery shopping at 10:30PM last night instead of this morning.  It is almost 1:00AM as I finish this post and I need to get started on the grass cutting in a few hours.  My goal is to be at Charles’ house before he can call to see where I am!

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

Wednesday was a good day!  We give God the glory!  Our Wednesday morning service attendance continues to be very good as does our final Bible study of the night.  Last night was probably our best study of the five Radical studies thus far.  God is good!  I haven’t seen the numbers from the 6:00 – 8:00PM hours yet but I feel they are going to be good as well.  Thank you for being faithful!

Lewis Jackson did good through his surgery and they will make some decisions this morning as to whether he can come home today, et cetera.  The funeral service for Adam Johnson’s father will take place today at noon.  Miss Vinnie, Bobby & Faye have gone to TN to visit with Shirley Nelson.  Teddy Ray Jackson’s father was discharged from the hospital too.

We will be having a work day in the CAB this morning beginning at 8:00AM in order to hang some sheet rock.  Hopefully, we will have eight to ten guys present as this will be a little challenging.  I will go ahead and say “thank you” to those guys who are going to help with this project!

Ladies, you are invited to a baby shower for Laurie Chandler’s daughter, Sharon, this Saturday morning at 10:30AM.  It will take place in the fellowship hall.  It’s a girl and she is registered at Target.

All ordained men are invited to join us this Sunday afternoon, 9/12, for a time of examining Rob Nevin as a candidate for deacon.  We will meet in the auditorium at 4:00PM and then will have the ordination service at 6:00PM.

Tonight will be a good night with the college football game (AU @ MSU) and the Vikings @ the Saints for the first regular season game.  This Saturday’s line up of college games is impressive too!

A certain grandmother asked me in the morning service yesterday if I had heard from her grandson who lives in New York City?  I told her that I had and she says that she hasn’t!  Enough said!

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

Lewis Jackson is scheduled to have another surgical procedure done today at noon.  He will be in the hospital for an least one night, possibly more.

The funeral service for Miss Alva Hayes will take place today in Foley.  Miss Hayes sister, Miss Avon Glass, was a faithful member of the Friendship family before her passing several years ago.

Sara Nell Moulds mother, Miss Nell McArthur, is having some physical problems which necessitated Carl Ray & Sara Nell going to Meridian, MS.

Adam Johnson & Denise Goodrum’s father, Kelly Johnson passed away.  The visitation with the family will take place tonight from 5:00 – 8:00PM at Serenity Funeral Home with the service tomorrow at noon.

Tom Compagner’s father, Mr. Milford Compagner, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  It is inoperable and chemotherapy is not an option so they will focus on using radiation exclusively.  Mr. Mil has never been on a GRACE Ministries trip but he has been more than kind and supportive of GRACE Ministries in so many ways.  Tom is one of the best friends I have ever had and he & Shari are vital members of the GRACE Ministries family.

The funeral service for Randall Osborn will take place today at 2:00PM in Danville, AL.

We are set for a regular Wednesday at Friendship with the morning service at 10:00AM and our final Bible study beginning at 8:00PM.  I remind our deacons of their meeting tonight at 6:00PM.

I read early this morning where some folks in the U.K. have concluded that cockroaches may help in the battle against the MRSA staph infection.  Folks, I don’t make the news, I simply report it!  Save your roaches?

Well, the Cardinals have a little hope as the Reds are struggling recently.  The Braves have finally fallen behind the Phillies but still appear in good shape for the wild card with the Padres fading so fast.  However, none of this is relevant with the college football season in full swing now!

Special thanks to Chris Taylor for taking care of my internet woes of yesterday.  Chinese folks can be so smart!

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

I read Pastor Jack Bailey’s blog entry around noon yesterday and was shocked to learn that Randall Osborn had passed away earlier in the day.  Randall was two years ahead of me in high school.  His passing came while he was asleep and apparently was a heart attack.  Randall was healthy and athletic.  Oddly enough, he was to be a pall bearer in a funeral service today and now his family will gather at the funeral home for his service.  He leaves behind a wife, three grown children, and one grandchild.  Pray for the Osborn family during this difficult time.  Pray for family of believers at Danville Baptist Church too.

My “holiday” consisted of being on the backside of a weed eater for about five hours and then doing some mowing.  Thankfully, Soy & Charles helped with the mowing.  (Mind you, Charles mows while sitting inside the cab of an air conditioned tractor)  So, since Charles “helped” with the grass, he figured it would be a nice gesture if I washed his truck and Ann’s car.  Said I didn’t have anything else to do and we were eating supper at his house and he had provided the meat.  Soy then brought his vehicle over to be washed too.  My in-laws are killing me!

Congrats to Boise State on last night’s victory over VT.  Good game.  Can’t wait till Thursday night to watch the AU vs MSU game.  Will State get fined for the cowbells?  Do Baptist preachers like chicken?

The office is open today and it promises to be a busy one.  Deacons, please remember our meeting tomorrow night at 6:00PM.

Hope you have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

I certainly give God the glory while also saying a huge “thank you” to the Friendship family for being so faithful to attend the services over the Labor Day holiday weekend.  Yes, we had a significant number of folks out of town but we also had some very good services with very strong attendances.  Obviously, the greatest thing was seeing one young man accept Jesus as his personal Savior during the evening service last night.  It was neat to hear the young girls reciting the Bible verses learned in AWANA’s too.  We had out of town and in town guests in all of our services.  God is good!

Bro. Chris Taylor did a nice job in bringing the message during last night’s service while his cousin, Austin Taylor, did a nice job of bringing the message in song.

As it stands right now, we have no members of the Friendship family in a local hospital as Miss Bea & Zanetta both came home over the weekend.  Miss Cora Martin, Clara Broadus’ mother, suffered a stroke Saturday night and is in a hospital in Troy, AL.  Pattie updated us on Gage’s condition via a comment on Friday’s post.  Miss Joyce Bosarge continues to need our prayer support as do all those battling cancer.

Miss Alva Hayes, sister of Miss Avon Glass, passed away Saturday morning.  Her service will take place on Wednesday morning in Foley.  I will post the complete arrangements once I have them.  Pray for Mariam, Wanda, Stella and the entire family during this time.

Mr. Mil Compagner is Tom’s dad.  He is having some physical problems but I am not sure to what extent as the voice mail Tom left me was not good quality.  Pray for him!

Bama fans and Auburn fans are all smiles today after their respective victories this past Saturday.  However, the competition gets much tougher for both teams this week with AU traveling to MSU on Thursday night while Bama hosts PSU on Saturday night.  I do not expect Ingram back for the PSU game.

Yes, Tico caught some fish – red snapper, white trout, and one shark.  He had a good day and I appreciate Tony Hacker taking us out.  Good memory!

It is almost 7:30AM.  I did not mow at my in-laws Saturday and Charles has already called this morning “wondering” what I am doing today!  So, the weed eater and mower will be my companions today.

Friendship family, remember that Bro. Jerry Hovel is on vacation this week so please don’t contact him for any reason.  Again, I don’t know if he is staying local or going global but don’t contact him.  Thanks!

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