Pastor's Blog

As we go through this final day of 2011, the last week of this year has basically been a very quiet one as far as the Friendship family is concerned.  We have had no one in the hospital and no major happenings – praise the Lord!

Lisa and I left home at 5:30AM yesterday morning and returned at 1:00AM this morning.  We drove to Hartselle, Alabama and got to spend time with family.  Yesterday afternoon my mom & dad sat around their living room with all four of their children.  With Eddie living in China, those opportunities do not present themselves often so it was a good time for all of us.

Remember, we are on a regular schedule tomorrow!  (It amazes me that folks still ask if we are having church, what the schedule is, et cetera.  Kim French, do you not listen?  Can you not read?  LOL!)

I am not sure what today holds for me (we never are, are we?) but I do plan on watching some college football.  Yes, I will be wanting AU to win their game against UVA.  I will not recite the AU creed or anything like that but I will be wanting the SEC to win out.

FYI, Soy’s dog died this week.  So, if you see him at church tomorrow wiping his eyes during the service please do not mistake that for his being moved by my preaching!

I have enjoyed the Christmas season.  It is basically gone.  I thank God for His blessings!

I pray your Saturday is a great one with Jesus!

Joyce Ashdon is from Battle Creek, Michigan and has gone with us to Guatemala for the past several Novembers.  Last month, she gave the money to build a house in “honor” of her mother who will be 100 years old next month.  Her mother fell this past Sunday and broke her hip which required surgery.  I ask you to pray for Joyce’s mother as she recovers from this surgery and looks forward to her 100th birthday celebration in a few days.

It is 4:30AM and Lisa and I are about to leave for Hartselle, Alabama in order to visit with my parents and all three of my siblings.  Pray that we will have safety in travel.

Chris & Courtney surprised me with a gift which they left at our front door last night.  I have always wanted a slicer dicer as seen on television – thanks!

Remember, regular schedule this Sunday, 1/1.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all four services.  I hope to see many members of the Friendship family in attendance.

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

Mac McGriff’s mother was placed under hospice care a few days ago.  She has definitely had a difficult time since her surgery.  Pray for her, Mac, and the family.

Otherwise, there is really nothing new to report in the way of those for whom we have been praying.  Keep remembering those who are battling cancer and those recovering from surgery.  It has been a quiet week and for that we give God the thanks!

Lisa and I, along with Dana, Gina, Brad, Daphne, Titus & Emmy did something late yesterday afternoon that we never get to do – we went to the Lighthouse Restaurant.  Wait, you will say that Lisa and I go to the Lighthouse weekly.  However, not for fish and grits which is a Wednesday night only offering.  Since we are always in church on Wednesday nights then we never go for F&G so we did last night.  (Saw Pastor Alton Stokes on our way in but he did not pay for our meal!  What did you expect?)

Soy, Deidra, and Lizzie returned home from Memphis, TN last night.  The good news is that Deidra brought us bar-b-que from Corky’s.  The better news is that Deidra and Lizzie are home!  The not so news worthy story is that Soy came with them!  He was so happy to be home and wanted to know if he could come over and watch a movie with me – are you kidding me or what!

Remember, the church office will be closed after today until Tuesday morning at 8:00AM.  Our Sunday schedule will be basically normal this week.  Lets begin 2012 on the right note!

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

This will be an unusual Wednesday for the Friendship family as we will have no services/activities/Bible studies this morning or tonight.  The staff is in today but this is really due to having so many teachers/leaders out of pocket due to the season and the various schools being on Christmas break.  Remember, the church office is open today from 8:00AM – 5:00PM but there are no services.

The third pastor I ever had was Bro. Jack Freeman.  He passed away in March of 2000.  His wife, Miss Peggy, passed away on Monday and will be buried in Decatur, AL today.  Pray for the Freeman family.

Carla Kyser has an infection.  She went to the doctor yesterday and got some meds so hopefully she is on the mend.

Lisa and I visited with Bro. Jerry & Miss Gloria Whitmore yesterday.  She is doing great and wants to get back to church!  She is receiving “in home” physical therapy.

Found out yesterday that Derrick Wilkinson’s father is in a local hospital.  I do not have the details but do ask that you pray for him along with the others that have been mentioned.

FYI, the church office will be closed next Monday, 1/2/12, for the New Year’s holiday.  We will be open on Tuesday, 1/3, at 8:00AM.  (As per normal, it will be closed on Friday, 12/30)  Personally, I think we should make the following Monday, 1/9, a national holiday.  (If we were having a service tonight, Ross Hatcher would probably second that motion!)

Remember, we are on a regular schedule this Sunday, 1/1, with the exception of bus service and Discipleship Training.

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

Carla Kyser is better.  Thanks for your prayers!  Keep praying!

Since the office was closed yesterday, not a lot to report today.  It is a beautiful day outside.  I trust that each one of you had a great Christmas weekend.  We did and we give God the thanks!

I want to remind the Friendship family that there are no services/activities/Bible studies tomorrow, 12/28.  However, the church office is open today, tomorrow, and Thursday.  We will be on a regular schedule this Sunday, 1/1!

Congratulations to Drew Brees on setting the season passing record during the game last night.  The Saints look pretty tough.

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

What a wonderful Christmas Day service we had yesterday!  The building was packed and the spirit was excellent.  What a joy to see many members of the Friendship family as well as a good number of guests present for the service.  Thank you for coming to His birthday celebration!

The church office is closed today for Christmas so it will be a day or two before we have a final tally on our 2011 LMCO.  However, I am grateful for each cent given.  Beginning this Sunday, 1/1/12, we will put all LMCO gifts to the 2012 offering.

Carla Kyser continues to need our prayer support as she battles a sickness.  Gloria Whitmore continues to recover at home from her surgery of last Monday.

Remember, there are no services or Bible studies at Friendship this Wednesday, 12/28.

This Sunday, 1/1/12, we will have four worship services (8:00 & 10:30AM; 2:00 & 6:00PM) along with Sunday School at 9:15AM.  There will be no bus service and no Discipleship Training.

Friendship family, mark Sunday morning, 1/22, on your calendar and make plans to attend the 10:30AM service that day.  I think it is going to be an awesome service.  I’m just saying!

Also, the Down East Boys from South Carolina will be our guests on Sunday, 1/15.  Make a note of that too and make plans to be present.  They will have the entire evening service to minister through song.

What a joy to be able to spend time with family!  It has been good to have Eddie, Sue & family with us for the past couple of days.  We are blessed!

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

Merry Christmas!  My prayer is that this day will be a great day in your life!  I strongly encourage you to be involved in a church service today to celebrate the One Christmas is all about!

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve service.  The spirit was excellent and the attendance was good.  I appreciate each one who attended.  It is always good to have guests join us for that service.

Lisa and I are blessed as my brother, Eddie, and his entire family arrived here around 7:00PM last night.  The original plan was for our entire family to be together but those plans changed due to dad’s sickness and Freddie’s injury.  God knows.

I received an e-mail from Marisa asking us to pray for Carla Kyser.  Carla has been running a temp and that is not good for her because of the treatment.  Pray for her today as God brings her to your mind.

Keep praying for the Lonnie Thornton family too.

We will gather as a church family and friends at 10:30AM today to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We would be delighted to have you join us!  Merry Christmas!

The arrangements for Lonnie Thornton are as follows:  visitation with the family tomorrow, 12/24, from noon until the 2:00PM service time.  The visitation and service will take place from Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  Pray for the Thornton family.

Laurie Chandler’s mother-in-law had been living in an assisted living facility but has now been moved to a convalescent facility.

My brother, Freddie, was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

We will have a Christmas Eve service beginning at 5:00PM and ending at 6:00PM.  This service is open to all and I do hope we will have a full house.

Our Christmas Day schedule will be one service only at 10:30AM.  My prayer is that we will see many members of the Friendship family present for that service.

We will not have any services/Bible studies on Wednesday, 12/28.

Our New Year’s Day schedule will be “normal” with the exception of no bus service and no Discipleship Training.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus – the Reason for the season!

Yes, I know this post is very late and apologize.  They say that “the best laid plans of mice and men” go astray.  Our Sunday School writer wrote in our lesson two Sundays ago that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!  My plans were to visit the hospitals early and then make some in home visits.  Titus spent the night with us and life was good!  Wow!  I had a problem arise and still have not gotten over it.  I was literally flying above the weather (clouds) but have been deep under the weather ever since about 11:00PM last night.  Not good!  However, I am blessed as I read about so many others who are having “real” problems.

Julie Whitehurst’s father, Lonnie Thornton, passed away this morning around 5:30AM.  This was not expected.  Lonnie is also the brother-in-law of BJ Bosarge.  Pray for this family.

They had the funeral service for Jay Heath this morning.  I apologize to the family for not being able to attend.

Miss Gloria Whitmore was set to come home today.  She was running a low grade fever so I am not sure if that happened or not.

I am assuming Rebecca Taylor and the baby are at home now.  Praise the Lord for a safe delivery.

Without a doubt, I am leaving someone off/forgetting someone.  I apologize.

I pray that you will have a great rest of today with Jesus!

It is shortly before midnight in Brooklyn and we are getting ready to leave early in the morning to fly home.  I do not know when I will have internet access so decided to post early.

As far as I know, the situation with the folks on our prayer list remains the same.  My brother, Freddie, had a rod placed in his lower leg.  He is doing well.

David & Ginger Wood are friends from Danville, Alabama.  Ginger was 17 weeks into her pregnancy and a visit to the doctor  today (Tuesday) revealed that the baby had passed away.  Ginger is now in the hospital and will give birth at some point tomorrow.  Pray for David, Ginger and family.

We enjoyed another good day in NYC.  T. Garrett met us and spent several hours with Lisa and the girls.  I did the shopping (American Girl & Macys) before meeting them for supper.  Lisa and the girls went to a Broadway show while T. Garrett and I spent a couple of hours in fellowship.

T. Garrett is a lawyer by trade but he would make an excellent tour guide.  He has treated us like royalty!  We are extremely grateful!

Bro. Robbie is preaching the 10:00AM & 7:00PM services today.  I will be home for the 8:00PM service.

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