Pastor's Blog

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.