Pastor's Blog

Bro. Robbie’s heart cath revealed no blockages.  The doctor thinks that one of his blood pressure medications could possibly be slowing his heart rate too much so they are taking him off of that medication for the time being.

Miss Annette Williams’ son-in-law, Terry, was taken to the hospital yesterday.  I am not sure what the end result was but he was running a high fever and had some other issues.

Millie Spiller was discharged from the hospital last Friday.  She is to see another doctor today.  That visit will most likely clarify her situation.

Aaron Chinners had a scan done last week and it looked good.

Sam Schjott’s uncle remains in the hospital and has actually taken a turn for the worse.

GROW takes place tonight at 6:30PM.

It was good to get the rain yesterday.  However, that does mean the grass will grow rapidly this week which tells me what I will be doing Friday.

I was having trouble with my television last night as I could not get it to work.  Had sound just no picture.  Called Soy over since he is so technical.  He fixed it!  Smart guy when it comes to electronics.  What did he do?  Turned the actual television on.  It is amazing how good of a picture you can get when the television is on.  (For the record, our sound does not come through the television but through I do not know what – it is magic!)

I did watch some of the Falcons/Broncos game.  Wow, that was a tough watch!  That group of game officials had a tough night.  Looked like Joe David Bailey, Clint Landry, Adam Glenn and crew out there!

They scheduled the Ole Miss vs Bama game on the 29th for an 8:15PM start time.  Are you serious?  Do they think this is USM, USA or Troy playing?  Please!  My plans will be to not attend that game as it would put me home too late (early)!  I am writing my congressman!

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

We enjoyed a blessed day in our services yesterday.  The highlight of the day was hearing Mike Clark share during the evening service.  We ended up with a “good” attendance but there were a good number of our folks who simply did not attend.  They are the ones who missed a blessing.  Those in attendance were also a blessing to Mike & Dottie through a love offering.  We thank the Lord for His blessings!

Pastor Robbie Howard will have a heart cath this morning.  I will get an update on Miss Millie today also – not sure if she is still in the hospital.  Miss Johnnie Grant is in Birmingham today for a check up from her recent procedure.  Pray for these folks!

Joe David went 2-2 on his picks so I beat him again as I went 2-2.  I missed the UT game and MSU game.  Good news – UT got beat.  Bad news – Notre Dame won!  (Sherry, until OU becomes relevant please do not make comments about college football on this site!)  Better news – USC lost!  (I do not hug trees but I do like the Tree!)

I do not watch much pro football but did see where the Cowboys got trampled by the Seahawks yesterday – hooray!  Also noticed the Jets got beaten pretty good –  hooray again!  (Like Tebow but not Rex)

My older brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, are celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary today.  I was the ring bearer or something like that in their wedding so I was obviously so young that I do not remember much about it.  I am sure it was nice!  Happy anniversary Eddie & Sue!

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

The visitation with the Kittles family takes place today from noon until the 2:00PM service time.  Everything will be from the Mobile Memorial Gardens funeral home.

Visited with Millie yesterday afternoon.  She will not find out the results of her latest test until today or possibly Monday.  Did not have any idea as to when she might be discharged from the hospital.

I do not think there has been any significant change in any of the folks I mentioned in yesterday’s entry.  Did find out that my dad has 50 stitches in his lip/mouth from his surgery – ouch!

The folks from the Friendship family who have been in KY are scheduled to return home today.  Pray for their safety in travel.

I appreciate those who contacted me about the volcano eruption in Guatemala.  Yes, that volcano pretty close to one of the towns (Alotenango) where GRACE teams have built many houses.   I have not heard from any of our folks in Guatemala at this point.  (John King is in Canada and he would be our best source as he and Samuel have been leading the house building in that town)  Pray for those folks as many will not leave for fear that their possessions will be taken in their absence.

Mike & Dottie Clark will be our guests in the evening service this Sunday, 9/16.  I am prayerful that we will have a good attendance to hear them share about the work at Casa Aleluya.  We are on a regular schedule for Sunday morning.

I decided to pick four games this weekend – Bama over Arkansas (with or without Tyler Wilson); AU over ULM (just cannot imagine an in state team losing to ULM); UT over UF (hey Rick it worked for you guys last week) and Sparty over the Irish (got to go with my MSU friends on this one).  I made one mistake regarding my picks as I sent them to Joe David and he merely copied me.  He is so lame when it comes to picking the games.  He e-mailed me late last night and took Rutgers over USF by a score of 23 – 13.  (He is basically a Michael Mason junior!)

It is almost 4:00AM and Walmart is calling my name.  Charles mandated that I mow his yard yesterday afternoon and I was able to get it finished so only three or four more to go today.

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

Millie Spiller had a test yesterday and I do not know the results.  I went to visit in the afternoon and she had gone for the test during that time even though it was supposed to have taken place earlier.  Lord willing, I will see Millie first thing this morning.

Rob Nevin’s mother is hospitalized.  They are working on getting her into an assisted living facility which is what the family believes will be best for her.  It has taken her some time to get to the point of agreeing with the family on this matter.

Chris’ cousin and Liz’s friend, Angie, did not get a good report from the doctor.  You can read the test results by reading the comment Liz left on yesterday’s post.

Betty Carol Neal is nearing the point where she will receive her prosthesis.

I literally typed out “Sandra McElwee get in touch with me” on yesterday’s entry and then deleted it.  She must have ESPN because she sent me an e-mail last night.  Her husband, David, has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  (By the way, thanks for nothing Denise!)  David is going once a month for blood work and his results are remaining consistent at the moment.

Greg Boutwell has seen doctors for the past couple of days.  He got a good report.  One doctor told him that the surgery was “major” and it would take a little time for Greg to recover.

Sam Schjott’s uncle remains hospitalized.  He had to have another surgery to correct a problem from his initial surgery.

My dad has outpatient surgery on his lip yesterday.  He had a cancerous spot and the surgeon kept cutting until the reports finally showed all margins clear of cancer.  He does not take pain meds but went home and took two Lortabs.  He cannot eat for a couple of days due to the soreness.

Dale & Carla leave for Michigan today as they will be ministering there this weekend.  They will be with Student Pastor, Eric DeYoung.  (Eric still owes me money so I hope they can collect it for me!)

We had a good day yesterday in our services.  The morning service was down (19) but a good majority of the folks in KY are Wednesday morning regulars.  Our books finally arrived for our 8:00PM Bible study so we will divide into two groups next Wednesday for the study portion.  Soy will lead the younger group while Dale, Davy, Sam, & I will lead the older group.

The service for Derrick & Jodie went well last night.  Pastor Travis Northcutt sent me a video clip and for that I am grateful.

This post has been too long.  Sorry about that!  I will have to make my college football picks tomorrow.  Going with four games.

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

Miss Carolyn Kittles passed away early yesterday morning.  The visitation with the family will take place this Friday, 9/14, from noon until the 2:00PM service time at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  This is Dawn Hacker’s aunt.  Pray for the Kittles family.

I thought Millie Spiller was going to be discharged from the hospital yesterday.  However, the doctor decided differently and now has her scheduled for a test this morning.

One of Bro. Chris’ cousins, Angie, had a test done at the hospital this week.  I am not sure if they have received the results yet.  Angie is a very good friend of Liz Whalen.

Speaking of Bro. Chris, he has been given a special assignment by me this week and has done a good job.  I appreciate it.

We are on a regular schedule today/tonight.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will be present.

Andy Hamil has sent me a couple of e-mails and says the group in KY is doing well.

Do you know anyone who works the “night shift”?  If so, why not send them a card of appreciation this week?

Mike & Dottie Clark from Casa Aleluya in Guatemala will be our guests in the 6:00PM service this Sunday, 9/16.

I read this morning where one principal in Oregon thinks that “peanut butter and jelly” sandwiches could be racially divisive.  (Folks from other cultures may not eat sandwiches so they could be offended or something like that!)  If this is true, we may have to change our lunch menu on our GRACE trips to Guatemala!

Rick Bradley, did you really think I would be impressed with UF after their “dominant” performance in the first game?

I have not decided which games I will pick this week but I am sure I will once again dominate Joe David!

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

Out of respect for the almost 3,000 people who died in the terrorist attacks exactly eleven years ago today, I simply ask that you join me in praying for their families today.  Death stings!

The Lord blessed and we had a good day in our services yesterday.  Jamie Barnes made a profession of faith in our 10:30AM service.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

P.C. “Alex” Alexander did a very nice job of sharing in our two morning services.  I continue to be impressed with Bro. Alex and his ministry.  Thank you for giving through the love offering to him and his family.

I assume that Bro. Kerry and the group that went to KY arrived safely yesterday.   I pray they will have a good week.

I do not know the status of Millie Spiller but otherwise we have no one from the Friendship family in the hospital.  I will check on Miss Millie today.

I gave Joe David Bailey three games to pick this past weekend.  He went with MSU, A&M, & Mizzou which means he only picked one correctly.  Meanwhile, I went with AU, A&M, & UGA which means I correctly picked one.  In a very complicated tie-breaker system, I was declared the winner of this week’s contest!  Joe David remains clueless!

The Saints got beat yesterday afternoon.  Bro. Robbie was not in the service last night which is always a sure sign that the Saints lost!  LOL!

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

Anna Carol Bosarge was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.

Millie Spiller remains hospitalized but is in her usual good spirits!

Karla Cooper’s brother-in-law, Keith, had a stress test yesterday afternoon and was released from the hospital later in the day.

Miss Vinnie’s son-in-law, Hugh, had surgery yesterday in TN.  It was to be a long surgery and last I heard from Miss Vinnie the surgery was going well.

Bro. Kerry and a group of 23 or so folks will leave early Sunday morning headed to the national quartet convention in Louisville, KY.  Pray for their traveling safety.

We are on a normal schedule Sunday.  My prayer is that all of the members of the Friendship family who are in town will be in their rightful place for Sunday School, Discipleship Training, and the worship services.

I mowed five yards on Labor Day.  Charles has gone to the island with some out of town family.  He called yesterday to make certain I was going to mow his yard this weekend as he has more out of town family arriving.  He said Soy would help me.  Right! I mowed Charles’ yard late yesterday afternoon while Eddie Hall was mowing the yard next door.  Eddie kept giving me that “why don’t you come and help me” look.  Folks, it is tough on the hill!

Wow, the college football game last night was too brutal to watch.  I turned it off and put in a couple of audio tapes of Dr. Jack Bailey preaching!  (By the way, I am going with AU over MSU and Bama over WKU)

Waiting on daybreak as the weedeater and mower are calling my name!  (Actually, Lisa is telling me that I had better get the yard mowed this morning!)

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

As far as I know, Anna Carol Bosarge remains hospitalized.  I will visit today to get an update on the outcome of her tests from yesterday.

Millie Spiller is also in the hospital battling pneumonia.

Linda Green’s brother, Clay, remains in the hospital but may soon be moved to a rehabilitation center.

It is my understanding that Greg Boutwell will see his doctor today.  Greg has been having some issues with his blood sugar levels.

Herbert Benefield has been having some minor strokes and will be seeing a specialist in regard to this.

Carla Kyser had another chemotherapy treatment yesterday.  Pray for all of these folks.

Sam Schjott’s uncle, Terry, remains hospitalized too.

We had a good day in our services yesterday/last night.  We give God the glory!

I mentioned in our Bible studies yesterday that one of the political parties dropped “God” and “Jerusalem” from their platform.  They changed that yesterday by a voice vote.  Sam Schjott was my informant last night and I have since read it online.  I do not watch the national conventions of the political parties.

I did watch half of the third quarter and all of the fourth quarter in last night’s Dallas vs New York game.  It pains me that Dallas won!  However, I was intrigued with the way our young adults watched the game.  They could have cared less which team won the game as their only concern was how their fantasy league players were doing.  That is crazy!  (For the record, Joe David Bailey picked the Giants by six!  Always go opposite of JD and you are good to go!)

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

My Tuesday was basically spent going to Ellisville, MS and back.  The pastors who preached Henry’s funeral did a nice job of sharing the Gospel.  Keep praying for the Miller family.

Art Elliott is home from the hospital – praise the Lord!

Anna Carol Bosarge was admitted to the hospital late yesterday afternoon.  I went to see her early last night.  She is scheduled for a nuclear stress test this morning.  A couple of EKG’s yesterday afternoon did not show any problems with her heart but she is having pain.  Pray for Anna Carol.

Pastor Roy Crouch serves the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Ellisville, MS.  He is married to one of my first cousins, Rachel.  (Our mothers are sisters)  Pastor Roy was at the funeral yesterday and asked me to join him, Rachel, Titus (8), Isaac (6), and Lydia (3) for lunch.  We had a delightful time.  The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Lisa could have gone with me. I was not around Rachel during her growing up years but she is pretty and sweet so I know she is my cousin!

I left Ellisville and made my way over to Richton, MS to visit the grave site of Lisa’s brother, Michael.  He was buried 26 years ago yesterday and I stood in the Clark family cemetery remembering how hot it was that afternoon twenty-six years ago.  I reflected on Michael’s brief life on this earth (18 years) and our time together (7 years).  I fondly remembered the trip Michael, Morris and I made to New Jersey to watch Alabama play Ohio State in the Meadowlands on August 27 which was less than a week before Michael passed from this life.  (By the way, Bama won 16 – 10!)  Precious memories!

We are on a regular schedule today with our 10:00AM service and the evening activities.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will be present.

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