Pastor's Blog

Today’s Bible reading – 2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10 Romans 7:14-8:8 Psalm 18:1-15 Proverbs 19:24-25

Jamie Hyatt had fluid around his heart and the surgeon inserted a tube yesterday to drain it away.  They removed one half liter and left the tube in place to continue draining.  Jamie will remain hospitalized for a few more days.

Kayla & Maci were doing good yesterday.  I did find out that she was born at 9:15AM and is nineteen inches long.  Mother and daughter should be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

Lisa Thompson was admitted to the hospital yesterday afternoon as they will be doing tests today.

Catherine Leach, mother of Elizabeth & Ginny, is in the hospital.  They were doing tests yesterday to hopefully determine her problem but were leaning toward something like TIA’s.

Brian Amonett continues to make improvement little by little.  His white blood count level was normal yesterday.  He still has a very long way to go in his recovery but the family is encouraged.

Becky Sellers got the results from her latest scans yesterday and they were good.  Praise the Lord!

The doctor in Birmingham gave Herbert Benefield good news yesterday as he said Herbert’s kidneys were almost back to normal.  (Note that he did not say that Herbert is “normal” just his kidneys!)  Thank God for this good report on Herbert’s kidneys.

Miss Cookie Rainey remains in ICU in South Carolina.  Keep praying.

Evangelist David Miller had surgery in Arkansas yesterday and it seems to have corrected his problem.  That is good news.

Have not heard anything from Bro. Chris regarding camp but assume that “no news is good news!”  (I am sure that updates are being given on social media sites but that I do not do social media)  Pray for the remaining days of camp.

The regular monthly service for the men from the Mission of Hope will take place in our auditorium this Friday night, 7/24, beginning at 7:00PM.  Pray for this service and everyone is invited to attend.

Our Nominating Committee continues to meet.  We need workers in several areas especially Discipleship Training.

I was in hopes of having at least thirty folks in attendance for prayer meeting last night but it did not happen.  We had twenty four which was good.  I sincerely believe we can reach at least thirty over the next three Tuesdays as we pray for revival.

The White House finally ordered the American flag to be flown at half mast in remembrance of those four Marines and one sailor who were needlessly killed last week.  Lowering the flag was a no brainer so why did it take so long?

The news related to Planned Parenthood just gets more sickening daily if the reports are true.  IMO, it is past time for the tax payers to stop helping fund this organization.

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

Today’s Bible reading – 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11 Romans 7:1-13 Psalm 17:1-15 Proverbs 19:22-23

“Encouragement is awesome. It can actually change the course of another person’s day, week, or life.”  ~Chuck Swindoll  (Borrowed from Pastor Jack Bailey’s 7/20/15 blog)

Our students arrived at camp safe and sound yesterday afternoon.  We give God thanks.  Pray for our students to have an awesome week of spiritual awakening!

I will visit Rick, Kayla & Maci this morning but, as far as I know, all is well.

Jamie Hyatt was set to have a surgical procedure yesterday but it was postponed until today.  Pray that they will be able to get him not surgery fairly early this morning.

Ashley Crawley continues to rehab at home after the surgery on her rotator cuff last Tuesday.

Spoke with Caroline Ford yesterday afternoon.  She continues to have physical problems.  In my opinion, she needs to go the ER and I believe they will immediately admit her into the hospital.  She can be so stubborn when it comes to these matters!

Visited with Robin Corley yesterday.  She still has a very positive attitude and gracious disposition.  She remains at home under hospice care but mainly under the care of her daughter.

Miss Cookie Rainey has been moved into ICU.  Her status is listed as stable but critical.  I spoke to Pastor Terry via the phone yesterday afternoon and assured him of our continued prayer support.

Evangelist David Miller was some better yesterday.  I will learn more from Edna Glover today.

Our prayer meeting takes place tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM in the auditorium.  It is a come and go event.  My prayer is for at least thirty folks to join us each of the next four Tuesday nights as we move toward the week of services with Evangelist Wade Morris (August 16 – 19).  We are praying for revival.  Will you join us?  Use the West side door to enter/exit.

The American flag at the White House was not lowered to half mast last week when five of our military personnel were shot and killed in Tennessee. Yesterday, the White House spokesman simply answered “no” when asked if there would be any consideration to cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood because of the video that surfaced last week.  I will just say one thing to both of these matters – wow!

Professional golfer Jordan Spieth appears to be a class act.  He stayed around yesterday to congratulate Zac Johnson on his playoff win in the British Open.  Spieth had missed the playoff by one stroke and was aiming for his third consecutive major win.  I am sure he was disappointed but that did not stop him from showing class.  I know very little else about Spieth but was impressed by this one class act by him.

I never knew or heard of Dr. Mike Campbell from Mobile until after he passed from this life as the result of an automobile accident on July 13, 2015.  I was told of his passing because his office is near the one where Chloe McGath works.  IMO, you would do well to go to al.com and search for his obit under the Mobile obits.  Very impressive – his life not the obit!

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

Maci Ann Bradley, daughter of Rick & Kayla Bradley, made her entrance into this world this morning around 9:30AM.  She checked in weighing six pounds and eight ounces.  I did not hear her length but I am guessing somewhere between two inches and thirty two inches.  Kayla & Maci are doing well as are Rick, big brother Hunter & big sister Caroline!   Congratulations to the Bradley family and thanks be to God!

(Kayla Hatcher hammered me for misspelling Maci’s name!  Really Kayli?)

Today’s Bible reading – 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17 Romans 6:1-23 Psalm 16:1-11 Proverbs 19:20-21

Tuesday, 7/21 – 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11 Romans 7:1-13 Psalm 17:1-15 Proverbs 19:22-23

Wednesday, 7/22 – 2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10 Romans 7:14-8:8 Psalm 18:1-15 Proverbs 19:24-25

Thursday, 7/23 – 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19 Romans 8:9-25 Psalm 18:16-36 Proverbs 19:26

Friday, 7/24 – 2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22 Romans 8:26-39 Psalm 18:37-50 Proverbs 19:27-29

Saturday, 7/25 – 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14 Romans 9:1-24 Psalm 19:1-14 Proverbs 20:1

Sunday, 7/26 – 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34 Romans 9:25-10:13 Psalm 20:1-9 Proverbs 20:2-3

The Lord blessed us with a good day in our services yesterday.  The highlight was one profession of faith and two baptisms.  God gives the increase and we give Him the glory!

The mission team did a nice job of sharing in last night’s service.  I appreciate Dylan & Elizabeth singing the special that I requested too.

Bro. Chris and our students leave early this morning (3:00AM?) for camp.  Pray that this will be a life changing week.

A couple of urgent prayer requests – Miss Cookie Rainey is not doing well.  She has been moved to ICU.  Several things working against her right now.  Pray fervently!

Evangelist David Miller was air lifted to a hospital in Little Rock, AR.  It is my understanding that he has a low hemoglobin count.  Pray fervently!

Rick & Kayla Bradley are set to welcome Macy Ann into this world this morning.  Pray that all goes well as they will surgically take the baby.

Miss Mary (Dana’s mother) will have eye surgery this morning.

Robert Baria came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon.

Brian Amonett had a really good day yesterday.  They removed his breathing tube and he is responding to commands.  A true answer to prayer.

It was good to see Eddie Whitmore, Becky Sellers and Lisa Thompson in our services yesterday.  They tell me that Jimmy Moates is doing better too.

Eula Mae Blackmon & Ann Clark are both at home rehabbing from their recent knee replacement surgeries.  Rusty was in the  morning and evening services yesterday.  Rusty is so faithful!

Herbert Benefield will travel to Birmingham to meet with a doctor on Tuesday.

I am in hopes that we will have at least thirty folks attend our Tuesday prayer time each of the next four weeks as we prepare our hearts for revival.  Why not come join us from 5:00 – 7:00PM?  We meet in the auditorium.

Are you finishing well?

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30 Romans 5:6-21 Psalm 15:1-5 Proverbs 19:18-19

We have had Clara Broadus’ sister, Faye, on our prayer list for months.  Yesterday afternoon, Faye’s husband, Bill, passed from this life. He had COPD and had been on life support for several days.  Pray for this family.

Brian Amonett has gotten stable again.  He has a very long way to go until reaching full recovery.  Keep praying.

Robert Baria is supposed to be discharged from the hospital today if everything goes as planned.

Wanda Johnson passed from this life this past Thursday, 7/16.  A memorial service will be held this afternoon at 3:00PM from Cloverdale Baptist Church.

We are on a regular schedule this morning and evening.  The team that just returned from Guatemala will be sharing during the evening service.  I always look forward to hearing from those who were first timers.

Plans also call for us to observe the ordinance of baptism as a part of the evening service.

Our students leave early in the morning heading to Georgia for camp.  Pray for their safety in travel and for a week of spiritual awakening among them.

Speaking of spiritual awakening, pray fervently for Evangelist Wade Morris as he will be with us the dates of Sunday, 8/16, through Wednesday, 8/19.  We need a spiritual awakening as individuals, a church family, a nation, a world!

I thought the storm of Friday afternoon would have me picking up sticks for an hour or two yesterday morning.  I was wrong as it was actually five hours worth and that was with Charles, Dana & Gina working too.  Not the worse we have ever had but bad enough because it was hot!

I am now officially out of the gardening business for 2015.  Took everything up and out yesterday.  I had stated that I was going to plant some pumpkins but I think I have changed my mind.  I am not much on gardening when the temps are so hot!

I checked the leaderboard for the rodeo late last night and still do not see even one name that I recognize which means the guys from the Friendship family are either holding out or simply are not getting the job done.  Joey Guidry, Grant Tillman and crew are telling me continuously of how many, how big, et cetera but unless they are fishing under a different name then it is not happening!

Katie, Courtney & K Dawg – SS breakfast this morning!  Just saying!

I pray that you will have a great Sunday with Jesus.  Go to church!

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Chronicles 26:12-27:34 Romans 4:13-5:5 Psalm 14:1-7 Proverbs 19:17

As far as I know, Robert Baria did well through his surgery yesterday.  The surgery was finished whenever I left the hospital but the doctor had not come out to talk to the family.

Brian Amonett was doing “better” the last I heard from Bill & Debbie.  His parents went home last night to get some rest as they have been staying at the hospital day and night.

I assume that Eula Mae came home from rehab yesterday.

Visited ever so briefly with Rusty yesterday afternoon and he is doing good.  Was walking in the house without his crutches.  Not doing good enough to help mow but doing good.  Mentioned something about his car needing to be washed – are you serious!

Tony Tripp is now officially a Mobile Police Officer – let that sink in for a minute!  I was there when he and eighteen others graduated and took the oath.  His first day on the job is Monday.  Congratulations to Tony!  (Getting to the graduation on time was the reason I had to leave the hospital as I was intent on not missing this big day in Tony’s life)  From this point forward, Tony will be known as #54 to me!

Ann Clark is doing well.  Marlene Broome cooked a delicious supper last night.  We just happened to stop by and enjoyed the meal too.  It was complimented by a pineapple salad made by Karla Cooper.  I tell you what would really help Ann in her recovery – a cheesecake from Hope’s Cheesecake in Gulf Shores – just saying!

We have several folks from the Friendship family fishing in the rodeo on the Island.  I checked the leaderboard this morning and did not see any of our folks listed.  What is up with that?  (Surely no members of the Friendship family will stay on the Island and miss our services tomorrow?  Katie Tillman has breakfast in SS – just a reminder!)

Wow, a pretty strong storm rolled through here yesterday afternoon.  I only have a little actual mowing to do today but now I will spend the first hour or so picking up pecan limbs.  After the mowing, the weed eater is calling my name.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  I hope many members of the Friendship family will join us for the services, Sunday School and Discipleship Training.

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11 Romans 4:1-12 Psalm 13:1-6 Proverbs 19:15-16

Writing this from the surgical waiting room as Robert Baria is scheduled to go into surgery at 7:45AM.  He is ready to get his surgery over in hopes that he can be without so much pain and to stand up straight.

Bill Kendrick sent me an e-mail yesterday afternoon saying that Brian Amonett had a bad night on Wednesday.  His blood pressure had dropped.  Not sure what the word is this morning but Bill or Debbie will let me know.

Eula Mae Blackmon is scheduled to come home today.

Ann Clark did come home yesterday afternoon.

Keep praying for those battling cancer.

As far as I know, the team arrived home from Guatemala yesterday afternoon/last night.

The Sunday School class taught by Kim French & Soy Taylor did a ministry at the Ronald McDonald House in Mobile last night.  They fed the families presently staying there.  It is always a blessing to me to see folks from the Friendship family doing ministry.

Tony Tripp graduates from the police academy today.  This is class 54.  So reminds me of “Car 54 Where Are You?”  If you remember that then you are old – like me!

Rusty sent me an iMessage asking if I could mow his yard this week as he recently had surgery.  The oddity of that is that Rusty has been living there for well over a year and the next time he mows his yard will be the first time he has done so!  After the work day ended yesterday, I was able to mow his yard.  He sent me a message last night telling me that I did not weed eat – wow!

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Chronicles 22:1-23:32 Romans 3:9-31 Psalm 12:1-8 Proverbs 19:13-14

The GRACE team travels home today.  Pray for their safety in travel.

Robert Baria will have surgery on his back tomorrow.  Will find out today what time – pray that it will be early for his sake.  The doctor discovered a problem with Robert’s neck and said he needs surgery six weeks after this back surgery.  Robert told him it would have to be six months later i.e. after deer season is over!  LOL!

My mother-in-law, Ann Clark, will be discharged from the hospital this afternoon.

No new news on Brian Amonett.

Pastor Rodney Coleman was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

Eddie Whitmore will receive another chemo treatment today.

Robin Corley remains at home under hospice care.

Rusty has been at home since Monday.  He is a big boy!  He attended the 7:30PM Bible study last night.

Herbert Benefield travels to Birmingham next week to meet with a doctor.

Tony Tripp will graduate from the police academy tomorrow afternoon.  Congratulations Tony!

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.

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

Today’s Bible reading – 1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30 Romans 2:25-3:8 Psalm 11:1-7 Proverbs 19:10-12

Ashley Crawley did well through her surgery.  She will have very limited use of her arm for the next six weeks or so.

Anthony Havard is no longer in the hospital.

Beth Bradley’s mother was anticipating being discharged when I visited yesterday morning.

Eula Mae Blackmon is doing good and has plans to go home on Friday.  She could stay in the rehab facility for a longer period of time but feels she is ready to go home.

Pastor Rodney Coleman’s surgery was a success.  He is in SICU but should go home directly from the unit today if all goes well.

Brian Amonett has now been moved to “stable” and was set to have a surgical procedure late yesterday afternoon.  The family continues to be grateful for the prayer support.

Ann Clark is doing well in her recovery.  She walked the hall yesterday.

Rusty was home for one night.  I have not knocked on his door but I did not see any lights on in the house last night.  I assume he got to missing Pattie “babying” him and went back to Bernard & Pattie’s house.

Mariam says Jimmy is doing better.  He received a maintenance chemo on Monday.  Keep praying!

The team in Guatemala is doing well.  They are scheduled to fly home tomorrow.

Regular schedule this morning and tonight.  Pizza for the 7:30PM Bible study as Lisa has her hands full and will not be able to cook.

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

Ashley Crawley is having rotator cuff surgery today.  Pray for her!  (Hit send a bit too early on my previous entry)