Pastor's Blog

Joshua 13:1-14:15 Luke 18:1-17 Psalm 85:1-13 Proverbs 13:7-8

Roseanne Baria did well through her surgery yesterday.  Bro. Kerry & Bro. Jerry tagged team to cover it and I appreciate them doing so. Prayerfully, Roseanne will come home tomorrow.

Mckenzie Hyatt could be discharged from the hospital today if she remained fever free all day yesterday and last night.

Junior Bosarge’s mother remains in the hospital but is supposed to be moved to a rehab facility tomorrow.

Jeanette Bates has a student, Anthony, in her class who is in the hospital.  He is ten years old.

Miss Mulkey was good yesterday morning and not so good yesterday afternoon.  It is an emotional roller coaster ride for the family.

We were blessed with a really good day in our services yesterday.  The attendance was good in the morning and evening services.  Again, I am thankful for folks who are faithful to attend.

Our “potluck with the pastor” went extremely well.  Lisa did an excellent job with the roast.  Carla Kyser, Ryan & Kayla Hatcher and Daphne Hutto were great hosts.  The side dishes and desserts were wonderful.  Our next “pwtp” is set for 5/20 as we turn it over to the guys for a fish fry.  It will be great!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Joshua 11:1-12:24 Luke 17:11-37 Psalm 84:1-12 Proverbs 13:5-6

“Potluck with the pastor” takes place this morning immediately following our service.  Lisa has the roast cooking and we have the bread & drinks ready too.  So, you bring the sides and desserts and we will have great food and fellowship.

Roseanne Baria is scheduled to have surgery this morning.  Supposed to a fairly long procedure.

Mckenzie Hyatt remains in the hospital.  Prayerfully, they either got some test results back yesterday afternoon or will get some back today that will determine the exact cause of her problems.

Stan Hatcher was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, had a heart cath on Monday morning and they placed three stents in his arteries. I “think” he was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Junior’s mother should leave the hospital on Friday heading to a rehab facility.

Miss Mulkey’s situation basically remains unchanged.

Dave sent a text late yesterday afternoon saying that Becky was doing good thus far with her chemo treatment.

Amy Brown is a friend from Florida who is thirty five years old.  She was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago.  Yesterday, they were hit with some more really bad news related to the extent of the cancer in her body.  However, she is determined to continue to fight it with everything she has and by all available means.

One of Tom Compagner’s brother’s has been diagnosed with bladder cancer.  They have already removed the tumor.  He goes to the Mayo Clinic on Friday for a consultation.

Got an iMessage from Courtney Hubbard yesterday saying that her radiation oncologist is pleased with her progress up to this point.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  We plan on having roast beef for the 7:30PM Bible study too.  We will begin our study in the book of Hebrews tonight.  Plus, there is a special surprise when it comes to the dessert!  Those young adults are going to be so excited!

Our attendance in the prayer meeting rebounded nicely last night.  We had our fourth best attendance of the year.  It was raining hard during most of that time and yet our folks faithfully came.  Thank you!

As a matter of fact, I overheard our Methodist friend praying something like this last night, “Lord, please do not have the pastor remind me of TNBA tonight as I am afraid of getting shown up by those guys.  They are good!”  Obviously, he did not stay to play but we did have a really good number.  Plus, we had our first injury of the year as someone went down with an injured knee.  Next man up!

They are calling for more rain today, tomorrow, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Wow!  God knows what He is doing and I trust Him.

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

Today’s Bible reading – Joshua 9:3-10:43 Luke 16:19-17:10 Psalm 83:1-18 Proverbs 13:4

First, I have to say a big “thank you” to each person from the Friendship family who attended the revival service at 1st Baptist Grand Bay last night to hear Evangelist Danny Lafferty preach.  We had twenty nine (26 adults/3 children) present.  It was good to see/hear Danny.  It was good to support our sister church.

Katelyn Johnson came home from the hospital yesterday and is doing well.

Becky received her treatment yesterday.  I am assuming everything went well.

Junior’s mother is just waiting on Friday when she will be moved to another facility for rehab.

Letha called me yesterday afternoon to say her dad was doing much better.  Still in ICU on the vent but improving.

Failed to get an update on Mckenzie Hyatt yesterday but will do so this morning.

Miss Nell Mulkey is seemingly nearing the end of her earthly life.  She is ninety nine years old.  I had a wonderful experience in her room yesterday as she sang “What A Day That Will Be” word for word to me – wow!  When she finished singing she simply said, “that is my favorite song!”  Again, wow!

Miss Exie looked like she did not feel well to me.  She was reading the paper but was still in her night clothes even though it was in the afternoon.

Miss Bryant did not feel well yesterday.

Miss Nevin was in the bed but seemed very upbeat and was feeling good.

Miss Betty Hickman was doing good.

Roseanne Baria is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow.  (Roseanne or Carol, please let me know the time once it is known.  Thanks!)

Prayer meeting tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  We meet in the auditorium.  Please use the West side door to enter/exit.  I will pray with/for you if you so desire.  Let’s have another high attendance tonight.  Come and go.  Come and stay.  Just pray!

TNBA tonight at 7:00PM.

“Potluck with the pastor” tomorrow morning, 4/15, following the service.  Lisa and I are providing the roast beef, the rolls and the drinks.  You bring the sides and the desserts.

I was saddened to read that Lou Holtz will no longer be on television during the college football season.  Really?  Absolutely not!

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

Katelyn Jackson Johnson had a surgical procedure this morning.  She did well and will be home later today.

Pray for Thomas Bailey as he is in ICU.  His daughter, Letha, has been attending our services (SS too).  He is presently on a ventilator and they are not sure of the outcome.

Junior Bosarge’s mother will be moved to a rehab center on Friday if all goes as planned.

Have not gotten to the convalescent home yet but plan on doing so this afternoon.

I was wrong on the rainfall total for Grand Bay.  Saw Eddie Hall in the hospital today and he told me that WKRG was reporting that GB got 8.1 inches of rain yesterday.  I fully believe it!  Roads are closed, et cetera throughout the Grand Bay area.

Blessings!

Today’s Bible reading – Joshua 7:16-9:2 Luke 16:1-18 Psalm 82:1-8 Proverbs 13:2-3

Tuesday, 4/14 – Joshua 9:3-10:43 Luke 16:19-17:10 Psalm 83:1-18 Proverbs 13:4

Wednesday, 4/15 – Joshua 11:1-12:24 Luke 17:11-37 Psalm 84:1-12 Proverbs 13:5-6

Thursday, 4/16 – Joshua 13:1-14:15 Luke 18:1-17 Psalm 85:1-13 Proverbs 13:7-8

Friday, 4/17 – Joshua 15:1-63 Luke 18:18-43 Psalm 86:1-17 Proverbs 13:9-10

Saturday, 4/18 – Joshua 16:1-18:28 Luke 19:1-27 Psalm 87:1-7 Proverbs 13:11

Sunday, 4/19 – Joshua 19:1-20:9 Luke 19:28-48 Psalm 88:1-18 Proverbs 13:12-14

Wow!  I think that word pretty much sums it up for me!  Wow!  The backside weekend of Spring break did hinder our attendance some but here is the most important thing – God was present!  We had a good, not great, attendance but we had an excellent spirit in all three of the services.  Once again, the evening service was special.  I simply say, “to God be the glory, great things He has done!”

I got into the service right at 6:00PM last night so I had no time to fellowship with anyone.  As I am standing on the stage, I see Johnny Gaston of Frontline Ministries on the second pew in the center section.  As the ushers are coming forward to receive the offering, I felt strongly impressed by the Holy Spirit to receive an offering for Johnny & Frontline Ministries.  Disobeyed initially but then called the ushers back for a second offering.  No big deal, right?

I briefly spoke to Johnny after the service and he thanked us for the offering and said he felt led by the Lord to purchase a sno cone machine but did not know where the funds were going to come from.  My reply, “well maybe the offering will help.”  End of discussion as I had a meeting to attend.

I get home and send Elizabeth Westbrook an iMessage asking her to find out from Johnny how much the offering totaled.  Here is Johnny’s reply to Elizabeth:  “Tell him what we needed to purchase  the snowcone machine is $500. My wife counted everything. It was exactly $500 and no change!!  God is so good!!! My jaw about dropped on the ground.”  Folks, we prayed and asked God to show up and show out last night and He did!  Hallelujah!  I stand amazed!  So, if you gave to the offering last night, when you see Johnny giving away sno cones while sharing Jesus in the Greer’s parking lot just know that God used you to help meet that need.

The rest of the story – I am sharing the above account with Lisa last night.  She then tells me that, as she was getting out of the car for the evening service, she put all the cash that she had with her ($12 – $13) and her keys in the pocket of her rain jacket.  Had no idea why she was taking cash into the service until the special offering was announced.  God knew in advance!

“A night of Friendship” takes place tonight at First Baptist Church beginning at 7:00PM.  Evangelist Danny Lafferty will be preaching in their revival service and I am asking members of the Friendship family to join me in supporting Danny and our sister church.  God used Danny to allow us to begin GRACE Ministries.

Grief share meets tonight at 6:00PM in the auditorium.

I walked out to the garden about 2:30AM this morning.  I plant on a bit of a slope and was concerned about it washing away because we got some rain last night!  One website says we got 7.5 inches in Grand Bay. (Bobby Stork, give me an official “Potter Tract Road” measurement, please)  The garden has survived although I lost a few plants and probably all of my watermelons as they were planted on the lowest side.  God knows and I am totally good with that!

I will visit the hospitals and convalescent home today and give a report tomorrow.  Becky Sellers receives another chemotherapy treatment this morning.  Roseanne Baria has surgery on Wednesday.

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

Today’s Bible reading – Joshua 5:1-7:15 Luke 15:1-32 Psalm 81:1-16 Proverbs 13:1

Visited with Travis Hyatt yesterday afternoon in Mckenzie’s hospital room.  At that time, they had still not determined the exact cause of her problems.  Keep praying.

Becky Sellers is scheduled to receive another chemotherapy treatment tomorrow.

Roseanne Baria is scheduled to have surgery this Wednesday, 4/15.

Heard from Herbert Benefield early yesterday morning.  The surgery was more involved than what the doctor expected but everything went well.

Regular schedule today/tonight.  “At The Cross” in all three services.  Lord willing, I will be preaching all three services.  Hope to be joined by many members of the Friendship family.

Jordan Speith continues to set records at the Masters but there are three others who “may” have a shot in today’s final round.  I plan on that being my Sunday night entertainment.

O, lunch yesterday?  Well, the husband grilled so it was good.  The only problem is that after we ate they shared that their freezer had gone out last Monday.  I wondered why Lisa and I got the invite – now I know!

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

Evangelist Danny Lafferty is going to be at 1st Baptist Grand Bay this Monday night, 4/13, and Tuesday night, 4/14.  I just learned this today even though I knew 1st was having revival services this coming week.

So, I am asking as many members of the Friendship family as possible to join me in “a night of Friendship” for Monday night’s service which will begin at 7:00PM.  I know this is an eleventh hour request and, for that, I apologize.

Danny Lafferty is the human reason we have GRACE Ministries today as he allowed Stan Stickler, Bro. Johnny Tucker and me to go on a trip in December of 1998.  He then allowed us to take our own group of students in April of 1999 and the rest is history.  So, I would love for us to support him in this service.

Also, I want to be supportive of our sister church.  Pass the word and join me if you can.

Blessings!

Today’s Bible reading – Joshua 3:1-4:24 Luke 14:7-35 Psalm 80:1-19 Proverbs 12:27-28

As far as I know, Herbert Benefield did well through his surgery yesterday morning.  The doctor had not come to talk to Peggy before they let her go back to be with Herbert following the surgery.  I am living by the “no news is good news” theory.

Debbie Hyatt’s granddaughter, McKenzie, age two, was admitted to the hospital yesterday.  She is the daughter of Travis & Rosalie.

Katelyn Johnson (nee Jackson) will be having outpatient surgery on Monday morning.

Keep praying for those who are battling cancer.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be preaching in all three services.  Yes, “At The Cross” is on the program.

Rain?  Really?  I have been holding off on watering the garden much because of all of the rain that was forecast to come our way.  It has not happened at this point.  Waiting on daybreak so I can turn the sprinklers on.  That will in turn bring the rain!

I enjoy recording the Sunday round of the Masters and then watching it after church on Sunday night.  If Jordan Spieth plays today like he has the first two days, Sunday’s play will not matter.  Wow!

I need your prayers today as I have been invited to lunch.  Problem is this girl cannot cook!  Every member of her family looks like a bean pole!  Probably going to offer some weird and/or healthy dish i.e. sushi, raw vegetables, raw eggs, or whatever does not have to be cooked.  Folks, that is not me!  How does one get out of these situations?

Supper will be good though as we are scheduled to meet Eddie & Sue at Diamond Jim’s.  I forgot my wallet!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24 Luke 13:22-14:6 Psalm 79:1-13 Proverbs 12:26

Herbert Benefield is scheduled to have surgery this morning.  Pray that all goes well.

Clara Broadus’ sister, Faye, has been on our prayer list for months.  Faye’s husband is now in the hospital so this family definitely needs our prayers.

Liz Whalen put a comment on yesterday’s entry.  Her uncle, Russell, was discharged from the hospital.  Liz, send me an e-mail telling me which hospital he was in, please.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  I received more correspondence yesterday about “At The Cross” and gave assurance that we will be singing it in this Sunday’s services.

In today’s world, only The Masters can pull it off!  What?  No cell phones are allowed inside the gates!  If you are caught with a cell phone, you are promptly escorted from the property!  But wait, how can those folks survive all of those hours without a cell phone?  That may be one of the most amazing things in the history of the world!  I absolutely love it!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Deuteronomy 33:1-29 Luke 13:1-21 Psalm 78:65-72 Proverbs 12:25

We had a really strong attendance in our morning service yesterday.  The evening service started really slow but it was pretty good when all was said and done.  I expected the evening to be down because of Spring break but I did not expect the morning to be up so much.  Praise the Lord!

Miss Willie Roberts’ brother, Bobby, had knee replacement surgery on Tuesday.  I visited him in the hospital yesterday and he should go home today.

Eula Mae Blackmon’s sister, Juanita, has been diagnosed with lung cancer.  It is the rarest type of lung cancer.  She will have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation in order to treat this type of cancer.

Dave & Becky Sellers were in the service last night.  She still has that amazing positive attitude!  She goes for another chemotherapy treatment on Monday.  Being the doctor that she is, she has figured out how to not be so sick this next time!

Visited briefly with Junior’s mother yesterday.  No change in her situation.

Herbert Benefield is scheduled to have surgery at some point tomorrow.

Pastor Jack Bailey was not able to attend their service last night.  He is better but cannot push it too much right now.

Regular schedule for the Friendship family this Sunday morning and evening.

Alabama basketball anyone?  I think they have done well in hiring Avery Johnson.  Not because of his coaching abilities but because he is supposedly a high character guy.  (Anthony Grant was a great family man as well)  Will Johnson help lead Alabama to more victories on the court?  Time will tell.  Coach Eric Collier needs to get Ingram to follow through on his verbal commitment to play for the Tide.  Come on Coach Collier!

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