Pastor's Blog

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 7:28-9:6 Mark 3:31-4:25 Psalm 37:12-29 Proverbs 10:5

Dave & Becky Sellers met with the doctor in Miami, FL and then immediately began their journey home.  Becky will meet with a surgeon in Mobile this morning to plan a course of action.

Grant Tillman’s grandfather, Henry Tillman, has been on a ventilator for several days now.  Plans are to take him off today.  Katie told me that he had a good day yesterday.

We had a good day in our services yesterday/last night.  Our Wednesday morning crowd continues to do well numerically.  The evening service was good as was the young adult Bible study.  Lisa did an excellent job with supper and Katelyn Jackson Johnson provided a great dessert.  (Little Debbie cakes are a great dessert!)

If you are a part of the Friendship family and sponsor a child in our GRACE Ministries feeding center, we have a new picture of your child to give to you.  Plus, we have a 2015 GM calendar if you have not receive one already.  Amy Reynolds is in charge of this and you can get the picture from her this Sunday.   (Folks, Amy is a former cheerleader so just be patient and work with her.  You may have to spell your name a couple of times and do it rather slowly.   She will eventually catch on!)

Faith Academy (5A) and Theodore (7A) boys both won the South Regional tournament in Dothan yesterday.  FA plays in the final four on Wednesday while Theodore does likewise on Thursday.  This marks the fourth consecutive trip to the final four for FA while Theodore is making their first appearance.  Good luck to both teams.

IE3.  Are you being intentional in evangelism, equipping and encouraging?  I pray so!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 6:1-7:27 Mark 3:7-30 Psalm 37:1-11 Proverbs 10:3-4

I was under a burden as I walked over from the office  to the auditorium last night for our prayer time.  However, I was very soon encouraged as at least twenty six folks showed up for prayer.  Of that number, twenty three were males which is incredible!  One entire family (father, mother, children) came to pray.  We are going to make a couple of changes with the most prominent one being that beginning next Tuesday, 2/24, I will open the doors at 5:30PM and leave them open until 7:00PM for prayer.  Some folks would like to come a bit earlier than 6:00PM and this makes that possible.  I do ask that folks use the west side entrance on Tuesday nights as this helps us keep track of the traffic flow.

We had sixteen guys show up for TNBA last night too.  Good fellowship.  Somewhat good exercise.  Has proven to be a good outreach tool up to this point.  It is part of the IE3 focus.

Dave & Becky meet with the doctor in Miami, FL this morning.  Pray that he will provide an answer that will bring healing to Becky’s body.

Miss Kathleen Henderson has been moved to a rehabilitation center.

Thank you to each person who helped provide and serve the meal for the Love family yesterday.  You did well!

Regular schedule today/tonight.  Bro. Chris is on vacation so all of the students will meet with Bro. Jim Chinners.  When I got home from the TNBA last night, Lisa was preparing poppy seed chicken casseroles.  That makes coming to the 7:30PM Bible study worthwhile!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 4:1-5:19 Mark 2:13-3:6 Psalm 36:1-12 Proverbs 10:1-2

The visitation with the Jay Love family takes place today from 12:00PM until the service begins at 2:00PM.  Everything takes place in the church auditorium.  Pray for this family and for the service.

If you are bringing food, please have it in the fellowship hall no later than 1:45PM today.  Questions about the food?  Contact Miss Vinnie Brewer or call Edna in the church office.

Dave & Becky Sellers leave today heading to Miami, FL for an appointment with a specialist tomorrow.

Larry Whitehurst was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  He was ready to get to the house even though he is not ready to jump any fences.

Miss Kathleen is going to apparently need some physical therapy and then be placed in an assisted living facility.  She and the family are weighing their options.

Peggy Knighten’s brother-in-law, Mark, did well through his surgery.  They did remove the kidney.  If all looks well this morning,  he will be discharged today.  Pretty amazing to me!

Prayer meeting tonight from 6:00 – 7:00PM in the auditorium.  Everyone is invited.

TNBA takes place tonight from 7:00 – 9:00PM in the CAB.  Any man who was in one of our worship services this past Sunday is welcome to join us for this intense night of action!

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

Jay Cole Love, born April 12, 1936, passed from this life on Sunday, February 15, 2015. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Clinton Ard and Martha North Ard, and her only sibling, John N. Ard, III. She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Jack D. Love; four children, Julie (Benny) McGath, Ginger (Dan) Welch, Danny (Liz) Cole, and David (Marla) Cole; one stepson, Jack Love, Jr.; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; one niece, Jennifer Smith, as well as several dear longtime friends. She was born on Easter Sunday at the Visitation Monastery in Mobile. Her parents were undecided on a name, so the nuns at the monastery named her Daphne Easter, to which her parents added Jay Ellen. She grew up in Mobile, graduated from Murphy High School, and attended Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee. When her children started school she discovered an interest in floral design which developed into a hobby she devoted a lot of time to for many years. She made beautiful wreaths and other hand-crafted items which she sold at craft shows around the area. Professionally, she spent many years as an employment counselor, and owned her own agency for a period of time. She loved to read, had a special affection for cats, and enjoyed bird and squirrel watching, but the real joy in her life came from her family. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church, with the visitation from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Grand Bay Cemetery.

Today’s Bible reading – Leviticus 1:1-3:17 Mark 1:29-2:12 Psalm 35:17-28 Proverbs 9:13-18

Tuesday, 2/17 – Leviticus 4:1-5:19 Mark 2:13-3:6 Psalm 36:1-12 Proverbs 10:1-2

Wednesday, 2/18 – Leviticus 6:1-7:27 Mark 3:7-30 Psalm 37:1-11 Proverbs 10:3-4

Thursday, 2/19 – Leviticus 7:28-9:6 Mark 3:31-4:25 Psalm 37:12-29 Proverbs 10:5

Friday, 2/20 – Leviticus 9:7-10:20 Mark 4:26-5:20 Psalm 37:30-40 Proverbs 10:6-7

Saturday, 2/21 – Leviticus 11:1-12:8 Mark 5:21-43 Psalm 38:1-22 Proverbs 10:8-9

Sunday, 2/22 – Leviticus 13:1-59 Mark 6:1-29 Psalm 39:1-13 Proverbs 10:10

Wow, we had a really good day in our services yesterday!  Glory to God!  I was especially impressed with the attendance considering that the public schools are out.  We had a really strong attendance in all three of our services.  Friendship family, thank you for being faithful.

I guess you can tell from my evening message last night that I believe in the power of prayer.  This is a call for the church family, leaders included, to join us in praying for our families, our church, our nation, et cetera.  A special call to prayer for the US Supreme Court and their upcoming decision regarding marriage.  We will meet from 6:00 – 7:00PM this Tuesday night, 2/17, in the auditorium.  Special thanks to Jim Chinners for coordinating this ministry the past two Tuesdays in my absence.

It is possible that Larry Whitehurst will be discharged from the hospital today.  I will visit early AM.

I will also visit Kathleen Henderson today.

Dave & Becky will leave either today or tomorrow heading to Miami to meet with a specialist on Wednesday.

Peggy Knighten’s brother-in-law, Mark, will have a baseball size tumor removed from his kidney today.  (They may be removing the kidney?  Peggy help me on this one)  This will take place in Birmingham and he is supposed to go home tomorrow – wow!

The Love family will be making arrangements today for Miss Jay.  I will post them here once I have them in hand.  I think we are good to go on the food to feed the family after the service.  Questions about the food?  Contact Miss Vinnie Brewer or call the church office.

Grief Share takes place tonight in the auditorium beginning at 6:00PM.  This is week three.

TNBA takes place tomorrow night beginning at 7:00PM.  Any man who was in at least one of the worship services yesterday is invited to join us.  Lord willing, I will be back on the court after finishing with the prayer meeting.

Bro. Chris is on vacation this week.  Bro. Kerry will be doing the same beginning tomorrow.  Please respect their time away by not contacting them electronically or any other way.  Thanks!

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

The Love family is temporarily planning on the following for Miss Jay Love:

Visitation this Tuesday, 2/17, from 12:00PM (noon) until the 2:00PM service time followed by burial in the Grand Bay cemetery. The visitation and the service will take place from the auditorium of our church.

If these plans hold true, we will need the food at the church by 11:00AM on Tuesday, 2/17.

Keep praying for the Love family as they walk through this difficult time.

(Check back at some point tomorrow afternoon/evening to make sure these plans are finalized)