Pastor's Blog

It is 8:10AM and just got word from Bill Kendrick that his wife, Debbie, is having two scans right now on a suspicious spot.  He requests our prayers for her.  I ask you to join me in praying that all will be well in this situation.  Thank you!

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 19:16-21:21, Matthew 23:13-39, Psalm 28:1-9, Proverbs 7:1-5

Happy 22nd birthday Hien!  Yes, Hien is 22 years old today.  I know, unbelievable!

As you know by now, Nikki Burwell passed from this life yesterday shortly after noon.  I am very grateful to Linda Green & Tina Wilkinson for going to Jackson, MS.  They were with the family whenever Nikki passed.  I saw Dana last night but was not able to see Miss Mary or Shaun.  Pray for the family.  Folks, 37 is too young to pass from this life.

Carolyn Blaylock was in good spirits yesterday.  They say she is doing better.  She is hopeful.  She is also so ready to go to her house on Zanzibar!  Kent was to receive a chemo treatment yesterday.

Carla Kyser gets her reports today.  Pray!

God has answered some prayers of mine – hallelujah!  First, on Thursday, March 13, 2014 we will have a special service featuring the preaching ministry of Pastor Ted Traylor of the Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.  I am so very excited!  Dr. Ted is a wonderful preacher of the Word!  Do whatever you have to do to be in attendance for that service.  Folks, it should be a standing room only crowd.  Have I mentioned that I am excited?  (Special thanks to Evangelist James Messer for his help in securing Pastor Ted)

On Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, we will have Evangelist Michael Mason as our special preacher in all three of our morning services that day.  Dr. Michael is also a gifted communicator of the Word.

On the dates of Sunday, August 17, through Wednesday, August 20, 2014, we will have Evangelist Wade Morris as our guest preacher.  I realize that many within the Friendship family do not know Wade but I promise you that you do not want to miss these services!

Then during the dates of Sunday, January 25, through Wednesday, January 28, 2015, we will sit under the ministry of Pastor Jack Bailey.  I do not need to introduce Dr. Jack to the Friendship family.

God has put together a tremendous line up of preachers to be at Friendship over the next twelve months.  We must pray and ask God to work in us individually and collectively.

Have I mentioned that I am excited about this line up?  Wow!  Glory to God!

Today is a difficult day for me as it marks the one year anniversary of the passing of Pastor Robbie Howard.  On one hand it seems like it has been forever while on the other hand it seems so very fresh.  I know he is greatly missed by many.  Pray for Bro. Robbie’s family today.

I leave early this morning bound for Guatemala.  I have some things to do tomorrow before seeing one team off and welcoming another team on Thursday.  The pulpit will be well supplied in my absence.

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

Nikki Burwell passed from this life early this afternoon.  They removed the machine from her and she passed fairly quickly afterwards.  She was 37 years old.  Pray for Shaun, her children, Miss Mary and the entire family.

We were not aware that today would be the day when the machine would be removed.  Once Bro. Jerry & Bro. Kerry learned of this, they made preparations to go be with the family but it was too late.  I appreciate their willingness to go to Jackson, MS.

I will post the arrangements on this site once they are finalized.

Lee & Christie Merck are NAMB missionaries in Red Lodge, Montana.  They sent the following in a card to the Friendship family:

1/26/14

Dear Friendship,

Thank you so much for your love for us and for the people of Red Lodge.  Your prayers and support are such an encouragement to us.  We continue to have 40 – 60 people at Common Ground, and had 26 adults and children at our Life Group Bible study in our home last week.  Please continue to pray for our health and endurance, and for the impact that will be made this summer by our mission teams.  

Because He lives,

Christie 

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 17:8-19:15, Matthew 22:34-23:12, Psalm 27:7-14, Proverbs 6:27-35

Wow, what a super Sunday we enjoyed yesterday!  I give God the glory but I do commend the Friendship family for your faithfulness in attending the service last night.  We had 199 which was really close to our average Sunday night attendance.  No promotions, no gimmicks, just church and you came.  Good stuff!

P.C. “Alex” Alexander did a nice job of sharing about the Pocket Testament League in the services yesterday morning and then in his preaching last night.  You gave him a nice love offering of $748.60.

I thank Bro. Chris Taylor, Tyrone Crawley, Rob Nevin, Liz Whalen, Jerry Whitmore and Raymond Wilkinson for their work in finding a solution to our video projection system.  We hope to have the HD monitors in place soon.  It really all depends on the availability  of the needed equipment.  Thank you to the Friendship family for trusting Liz and these guys.

I spoke to Miss Mary last night right before our service.  Nikki needs a miracle!  Linda Green & Tina Wilkinson are taking Dana to Jackson today to visit with Nikki.  Pray!

Carolyn Blaylock remains hospitalized.  Carla Kyser gets the results of her latest scans today.  Carolyn Holmes’ daughter, Tabitha, has been diagnosed with cancer.  All of these folks need our prayer support.

The picture taking for the pictorial directory begins today.  No cost to anyone.  Church families needed regardless of the size of the family.  Call the church office to sign up.

Keep these dates clear on your clear – Easter Sunday morning, August 17 – 20 and January 25 – 28, 2015.  More details later.

Honestly, the game was on last night but I probably did not actually watch more than three or four plays.  Why bother?  It was 22 – 0 when I got home (I stayed after church for awhile).  Do not ever depend on me to correctly pick the outcome of a SB as I said Denver 27 – 23.  Slightly off on that one!  When does the college football season begin?

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

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 15:19-17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalm 27:1-6, Proverbs 6:20-26

The wedding shower for Taylor Sprinkle and Aaron Akridge takes place this afternoon from 2:00 – 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  All ladies of the Friendship family are invited to attend.

Nikki Burwell continues to need our prayers.  It is my understanding that a specialist is being brought in to evaluate her.  She still needs a miracle.

Keep praying for Carolyn Blaylock too as she remains in the hospital.

Rob Nevin is at home.  He is still not able to communicate verbally.  Join me in praying that his speech will come back.

We are on  a regular schedule today and tonight.  I hope the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to the services, especially the evening service.  As a church family, we are not doing anything special to get you to attend.  Either you attend or you do not.  It really is as simple as that in this case.

I will readily admit that I am not a huge NFL fan.  Some years, I do not even watch any of the SB.  I will watch some of tonight’s game.  If I were going to pick a winner it would be Denver 27 – 23.  I would not put a lot of stock in that pick!

Hope you have a great Sunday with Jesus.

Today’s Bible reading – Exodus 13:17-15:18, Matthew 21:23-46, Psalm 26:1-12, Proverbs 6:16-19

First, the wedding shower for Taylor Sprinkle & Aaron Akridge will take place tomorrow afternoon, 2/2, from 2:00 until 3:30PM in the fellowship hall.  Ladies, they are registered at Walmart and Kohl’s.  Kevin & Tina are faithful members and I hope our ladies will be very supportive of this shower.  If you have any questions, contact John Wayne Bosarge.

The memorial service last night for Francisco “Pancho” Arriola was special.  It appeared to me that it was a help/comfort to Adriana and Sofie and that was our hope from the beginning.

The attendance was very good especially considering many folks did not know Pancho personally, you were only given a one day notice about the service and it was a Friday night.  So, thank you to each person who attended the visitation and/or service.  Thanks to each person involved in any way.  Thanks to each person who gave financially to help get the girls to Guatemala in time.  All of the singers and speakers did an exceptional job. Becky Hatcher and those who helped with the food for the fellowship time did an awesome job!  I am still waiting to wake up from this bad dream!  Keep praying for Adriana & Sofie.

Nikki Burwell is not doing well.  They tried to take her off the machine (it is not a ventilator) yesterday but that did not work.  Her heart simply cannot pump enough blood throughout her body without the machine.  When they attempt to awaken her she fights them.  Miss Mary told me last night that Nikki hates anything on her face thus the fight when she begins to awaken.  Pray!

Trish told me last night that they drained another significant amount of fluid from her mother, Carolyn Blaylock.  She will remain in the hospital at least through the weekend.  Pray!

Carla Kyser had a scan this past Monday and another one yesterday afternoon.  She will get the results on Monday.  Pray!

Amy Huhn’s mother, Gloria Morrison, got a much better report from the doctor yesterday.  That is good news.

Last Saturday of Upward basketball today.  Awards ceremony next Saturday.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  We are not adjusting our time for the evening service because of the game.  The committee that has worked on a proposal for a new projection system “may” bring a motion tomorrow night.  Our service will end around 7:00PM which is the usual time.  I am trusting that the Friendship family will be faithful!

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