Pastor's Blog

On the prayer point today – Donald & Pat Butler, Sierra Edwards.   jack@danvillebaptist.org

Yesterday was a good day for my immediate family.  We met with our extended family to enjoy fellowship, a meal, and the exchanging of gifts among the children.  We arrived home safely around 9:00PM last night.

Regular schedule this morning with the two worship services (8:00 & 10:30AM) and Sunday School at 9:15AM.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit both times this morning.

The adult choir will present their Christmas musical tonight beginning at 6:00PM.

I hope many members of the Friendship family will join us for the services today.

I pray that your Sunday will be great with Jesus.

On the prayer point today – Larry & Judy Whitehurst, Raymond Wilkinson.  jack@danvillebaptist.org

It is 12:40AM and I as sitting in my brother’s (Eddie) living room.  Yesterday was full but rewarding.  God is so faithful.

Lisa, the girls, and I went to the hospital yesterday morning to make two visits.  I went and had a very nice visit with Archie Sprinkle (Kevin’s brother) while Lisa, Dana & Gina went to visit with David & Sandra McElwee.  After I visited with Archie, I joined Lisa and the girls in David’s room.  Archie & David will both be in the hospital through Christmas and beyond.  David has not felt well in the ten days since his transplant but he should begin to be on the upswing now.  Archie will have a bone marrow biopsy on Christmas Day!

Andrea Timberlake’s family will receive visitors from 11:00AM until the 1:00PM service time today at the Valhalla Funeral Home in Eight Mile, Alabama.  I am told that Miss Vinnie Brewer and Sara Nell Moulds have coordinated a meal for the Creighton family.  Thank you to these ladies and all who are helping in the ministry.

My dad, Eddie, Freddie and I attended Danville High’s basketball games last night.  They played at Good Hope in Cullman County.  Saw folks that I have not seen in years.  Memories!

Today we will gather as a family to celebrate Christmas.  We will then turn it toward home.  Pray that the weather will not be too severe as we are driving.

Tomorrow should be a huge day attendance wise in our services.  Regular schedule in the morning and the adult choir in the evening service.  Come join us!

Remember, keep 1/9/14 open!

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

On the prayer point today – Linda Green, Jeff Holifield, Carla Kyser.  jack@danvillebaptist.org

It is certainly not a requirement, but several of the folks who have sent Dr. Jack an e-mail message have cc’d me.  Great stuff!  I have been very impressed with what you guys are sharing with him.

By the way, Dr. Jack has been experiencing some physical problems.  On Wednesday they discovered that he has at least six ulcers.  (If you knew his deacons, you would understand!)  Pray that he can be healed quickly!

I posted the arrangements for Andrea Timberlake’s father, Andy, in an earlier entry.  Pray for Andrea and her family as they walk through this valley.

Heard through the grapevine that Bradley Phillips did well through his surgery.

Learned yesterday afternoon that Miss Jackie Goff has been admitted to the hospital again.

Larry Whitehurst left me a voice mail early this morning to say that his brother, Ed, went home from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  He has leukemia and it is in an advanced stage.  The doctors are uncertain of a plan of action.  Keep praying!

The adult choir will present their Christmas musical this Sunday evening, 12/22, at 6:00PM.  I pray that folks will pray for, and attend, this special service.

The best plans of rats and people can get messed up!  (Or something like that!)  Lisa and I planned on visiting David McElwee and Archie Spinkle in the hospital last night but had to delay it until this morning.

Friendship family, Donald & Pat, and others living in the South Mobile County area – please mark the date of Thursday, January 9, 2014 on your calendar and keep the evening open.  More details forthcoming but I believe you will be extremely blessed!

Lisa and I stopped by the Prattville area ever so briefly on our drive up to Birmingham yesterday to follow up on our recent visit with the couple needing our counsel.  They have made some progress but she still has a ways to go!

Today, Lisa, Dana, Gina and I will drive to Hartselle and will spend the next two days with family.  We will have our family Christmas tomorrow.  Soy, Deidra and girls will join us tonight.  Brad, Daphne and children will not be able to join us this go around.

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

Hollis Andrew “Andy” Creighton, age 55, a native and resident of Mobile, died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 in a local hospital. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Starlyn Creighton; one daughter, Andrea (Drew) Timberlake; a step-son, Michael (Brandi) Norton; two brothers, Howard (Margie) Creighton and Robert (Brenda) Creighton; two grandchildren, Kate Timberland and Jonathan Norton. Visitation will be held, from Valhalla Memorial Funeral Home, on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013 from 11:00 until 1:00 pm. Chapel services will follow at 1:00. Interment will be in Valhalla Memorial Gardens.

On the prayer point today – Morris Bryant, Kittie Camp, Sanna Collier.  jack@danvillebaptist.org

Our final Wednesday of the year as far as services go went well.  We thank God for his continued blessings.

As we wet meeting yesterday morning, word came that Andrea Timberlake’s father had passed away.  They are going today to make the arrangements and we will post them here once they are completed.

Bradley Phillips was to have his surgery yesterday afternoon.  Not sure if that took place or not.

Danny Cole’s and Julie McGath’s father will have surgery today.

The college/young adults had a good fellowship last night.  The last ones to leave the house did so at 4:00AM.  O, to be young again!

Lisa, the girls and I are leaving today to visit David & Archie in the hospital in Birmingham.  We will then continue on to Hartselle to join the Turrentine family for our Christmas family gathering on Saturday.

Lord willing, I will be back and in the pulpit on Sunday morning.  I plan on blogging tomorrow and Saturday but it may be a little later.

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

On the prayer point today – Herbert Benefield, Judith Creal, Phil Sims.  jack@danvillebaptist.org

Jeff Holifield sent me an e-mail yesterday asking us to pray fervently for Kent Bragg as he is seemingly near death.  If this name sounds familiar, it is because his name has been our prayer list for weeks thanks to Herbert & Peggy and Bubba & Judy Benefield.

Larry Whitehurst has been faithful to leave messages regarding his brother, Ed.  Better but still has a ways to go.  Is confused much of the time.

Talked to Mitchel Fox via the phone yesterday as he was on his way home from the hospital.  He will see more doctors in the days to come.

Andrea’s dad got some good news regarding his heart.  Now, if he can get a like report regarding his lungs it will be a move in the right direction.

Peggy Knighten continues to recover at home.  Her son, Bradley, had an accident while snow skiing in South Korea.  He broke his collarbone and tore some ligaments.  Was scheduled to have surgery.  It is my understanding that it was his first time to ski.  Knowing Bradley, he was going one hundred miles an hour!

Lisa Thompson commented yesterday that she is to have another scan on 12/31.

Donald & Pat Butler are faithful readers of the blog.  They have signed up to pray/contact one day.  Here is the catch – they are not even members of the Friendship family!  That should cause each member of the Friendship family who has not signed up to say “count me in!”  Thanks Donald & Pat!  (Do Pentecostal prayers count?  I am not going there!  LOL!)  Actually, Lisa and I were with three Pentecostal preachers and a Catholic priest yesterday.  Good time of fellowship.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  Gumbo and bar-b-que for the 7:30PM Bible study Christmas fellowship.  Dirty Santa and a pill packing party too.

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

On the prayer point today – Anna Carol Bosarge, John M Ladnier, Jr, Ben Vickers  jack@danvillebaptist.org

We need one more person to join Larry & Judy this Saturday and three for this Sunday, 12/22.  Of course, we then need folks for 12/23 – 1/11.  I appreciate those who have offered to take an extra day or two but the intent is to get 120 different folks to join in this ministry.  This can be senior adults, student, whomever.  Will you take a day and pray?

They believe they have diagnosed Andrea’s father’s problem.  It has to do with his breathing.  Edna gave me the name yesterday but I do not remember it.  He needs our prayers.

Mitchel Fox is supposed to have some tests done today and then he hopes to be discharged today.  Again, that is his hope and I do not know if the medical folks are thinking along those lines.

Peggy Knighten had outpatient surgery yesterday.  Bro. Kerry attended that surgery to be with the family.  I appreciate him doing that.

Got this from Carla Kyser yesterday – “I did see the Orthopedic Oncologist last week. At this time my hips look ‘okay’ meaning he does not see areas of weakness where he feels I would require hip replacement surgery at this time. He has moved me out to 6 month follow-ups!!  Everything else remains the same until scans again in February.”

Kevin Woods was in our evening service this past Sunday night.  He got there after I had left the platform or I would have recognized him.  Last Friday, 12/13, marked one year since his fall and injury.  He was on crutches but he was there!  It was very good to see him and to see the end results of prayer.

Bob Henley, David McElwee, Archie Sprinkle, Lisa Thompson, Cristy Leytham and the others battling cancer need our continued prayer support.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  Christmas fellowship for the 7:30PM Bible study.

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

Here is this week’s schedule as it presently stands:

Tuesday, 12/17 – Anna Carol Bosarge, John M Ladnier, Jr., Ben Vickers

Wednesday, 12/18 – Herbert Benefield, Judy Creal, Phil Sims

Thursday, 12/19 – Kittie Camp, Sanna Collier, Morris Bryant

Friday, 12/20 – Linda Green, Jeff Holifield, Carla Kyser

Saturday, 12/21 – Judy Whitehurst, Larry Whitehurst, Raymond Wilkinson

Sunday, 12/22 – Donald Butler, Pat Butler, Sierra Edwards

jack@danvillebaptist.org

Need nine more folks to finish out Friday, Saturday & Sunday.  Contact me via e-mail.  Thanks!

Kayla Hatcher volunteered to be on the point today with Betty Clair & Mariam.

We need 18 new folks to sign up for tomorrow through Sunday.  The absolute best way to do so is to contact me via e-mail.  Please make this a priority!

If you have previously told me that you would be on the point one day and have not been assigned a day yet, please let me know again as I obviously forgot.  Imagine that!

Folks, prayer is the key!  Every child of God can pray.  Contacting Pastor Jack is easy.  He is attempting to reply to most e-mails and text – at least he replied to Nanette Fontenot’s text.

On the prayer point today – Betty Clair Hatcher, Mariam Moates, (need another volunteer who has not served up to this point – contact me, please).  jack@danvillebaptist.org

We need folks to be on the prayer point this week beginning tomorrow.  Looking for folks who have not been on the point thus far in this process.  Please contact me via e-mail if you will serve through this ministry.  It is real easy but extremely important!

Andrea Timberlake’s father is still showing slight signs of improvement.  He remains in an intensive care unit.

David McElwee remains in the hospital and is experiencing exactly what the doctor told him he would and it all spells “yuk” physically but his spirits remain high.

Mitchel Fox has been hospitalized again.  These infections are a constant struggle for him.

Bob Henley remains at home in his battle against cancer.

Miss Cristy Leytham continues in her battle against her recently diagnosed cancer.

Saw Carla Kyser at church yesterday morning and evening but did not get to talk to her about the latest developments in her battle against cancer.  She looks so good and has such a great attitude.

Logan Hatcher took a fall at church last night.  Stitches required for a cut just above his left (?) eye brow.  Not sure how many he received.  He is all Hatcher!

Don & Linda Redder are friends from Michigan and great supporters of GRACE Ministries.  Linda was on our 11/13 GRACE team.  Her mother was diagnosed with cancer soon after Linda’s return home.  She passed from this life last night.  Pray for Linda and her family during this time.

The children choir did a nice job in their musical presentation during last night’s service.  I appreciate Tena Hovel and those who help her in this ministry.

Our Wednesday night 7:30PM Bible study groups will have their Christmas fellowship this Wednesday night, 12/18.  A gift (under $10) is needed.  Afterwards, we will have another “pill counting/packing” party.  Pass the word!

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