Pastor's Blog

Happy fourth birthday to our granddaughter, Elisabeth LeighAnn Taylor!  Lizzi was born on 11/11/11 at 11:1 (you think it is going to be another 1, right?)6AM.  We will join her in a birthday celebration on Saturday, Lord willing.  Happy birthday Lizzi!

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 23:1-49 Hebrews 10:18-39 Psalm 109:1-31 Proverbs 27:13

THANK YOU to all of our VETERANS today!  Bro. Randy recognized the Veterans present in our 10:30AM service this past Sunday.  I ask that you join me in remembering these men and women.

I want to run a quote that was used by Pastor Jack Bailey in his blog entry today – “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” – George Washington

Lisa and I had a full day yesterday of seeing what Legacy of Faith Ministries and the Church of the Rockies are all about.  Pretty impressive what Dr. Lee, his family, and his church are doing here in Montana.  The Round Barn is a neat building.  We attended the Common Ground supper last night.  Good day!

I decided that if the Friendship family were to bring a mission team here then I will need to be selective in who can be on that team.  Why?  I have never seen so many deer and turkey just wandering about in the yards, fields, et cetera.  We literally saw hundreds of deer and a huge number of turkeys.  We have some guys who would come in with guns ablazing and that would not be a good thing.  By the way, the method for deer hunting here is to walk and stalk – basically no tree stands or shooting houses.

I did not realize that Al was a reader of the blog.  He sent an e-mail explaining to me that the reason for the warmer than expected temperatures is call global warming!  I am writing this about 3:30AM and the present temperature is twenty three degrees which feels like thirteen degrees.  That is better!

Regular schedule at Friendship today – morning and evening.

I pray that you will have a great VETERANS DAY with Jesus.

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 21:1-22:31 Hebrews 10:1-17 Psalm 108:1-13 Proverbs 27:12

Tim Knighten’s father is battling cancer.  He is about to begin taking a treatment that is very powerful.  Pray that it will be effective and provide help/healing.  Tim’s father lives in the Pensacola, FL area.

The funeral service for Imelda Davis’ brother takes place at noon today from the chapel at Serenity Funeral Home.  Preceded by two hours of visitation.  Pray for the family.

Miss Mary Jackson got a good report from her latest visit to the doctor.

We will have our prayer time tonight from 5:00 – 7:00PM.  Bernard Suthoff will take my place and I appreciate him doing so.

Lisa and I arrived in Red Lodge, Montana around 12:30AM their time last night.  We left the house at 9:30AM their time yesterday morning so it was a long day of traveling.   Much longer than flying to Guatemala.  Three flight segments, two layovers and then about an hour’s drive were all involved.  We thank God for His watchcare over us as we traveled.

I was looking forward to some cold weather but I was disappointed upon our arrival early this morning.  The car thermometer read forty degrees – short sleeve weather!  Calling for fifty percent chance of snow for tomorrow afternoon/evening.  Hopefully they will be correct.  I think I possibly brought a light sweater for nothing!

It was my pleasure this past Sunday to have my picture taken with each of the seven guys who preached and with Bro. Randy.  Mission accomplished thanks to Kim French.  However, it was not in my plans to have my picture taken with Nanette Fontenot but here she comes demanding that we have our picture taken together.  I did not want to cause a scene so I obliged.  Nanette has plans to run that picture in The Connection paper.  Ruby, do not do it!  Wow!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 20:1-49 Hebrews 9:11-28 Psalm 107:1-43 Proverbs 27:11

Tuesday, 11/10 – Ezekiel 21:1-22:31 Hebrews 10:1-17 Psalm 108:1-13 Proverbs 27:12

Wednesday, 11/11 – Ezekiel 23:1-49 Hebrews 10:18-39 Psalm 109:1-31 Proverbs 27:13

Thursday, 11/12 – Ezekiel 24:1-26:21 Hebrews 11:1-16 Psalm 110:1-7 Proverbs 27:14

Friday, 11/13 – Ezekiel 27:1-28:26 Hebrews 11:17-31 Psalm 111:1-10 Proverbs 27:15-16

Saturday, 11/14 – Ezekiel 29:1-30:26 Hebrews 11:32-12:13 Psalm 112:1-10 Proverbs 27:17

Sunday, 11/15 – Ezekiel 31:1-32:32 Hebrews 12:14-29 Psalm 113:1-114:8 Proverbs 27:18-20

Wow!  What a great day we had in our services yesterday!  God is good!  Lance Nicholson, John Womack, John Vickers, Clint Landry, Dale Bosarge, Chris Taylor and Wes Bates all did outstanding jobs of sharing the Word through preaching/teaching.  I was very, very proud of each of these “sons in the ministry” and how God is using them.  Praise the Lord!

It was certainly great to have Bro. Randy deBrabant with us to lead our musical worship.  Same Bro. Randy.  Still sings wonderfully.  He and Randall Broome did an awesome job on the duet during the evening service.

You can add Dylan Westbrook to that “sons in the ministry” list.  I asked him to come forward during the invitation last night so that I could publicly reaffirm his call to vocational ministry.  He and Elizabeth are doing an amazing job of serving Jesus.

While Alan Aldridge is not technically a “son in the ministry,” he and Henni are now looking at which seminary to attend as they pursue a vocational call to the ministry as well.  Alan graduates from the University of Mobile next month.

Bro. Chris & Nicole’s oldest son, Truett, had an episode late last night that gave them a bit of a scare.  They initially thought they would need to take him to the hospital but did not do so.  He is at home on OTC medications.  Pray for him.

The funeral service for Imelda Davis’ brother, William Bosarge, will take place tomorrow at noon from Serenity Funeral Home.  It will be preceded by a time of visitation with the family beginning at 10:00AM.  Pray for the family.

Peggy Knighten will have surgery on her shoulder on Thursday.

Bro. Randy deBrabant’s wife, Melissa, was not able to join us in the services yesterday.  She is battling cancer and will see an oncologist tomorrow.  It was disappointing to not see Melissa but we certainly understand and will continue to pray for her as she has been on our Wednesday prayer list for several months.

The response to our Upward basketball leagues has been good.  However, we are still in the process of receiving additional participants. Contact Kyle Bryant for more information.

Lord willing, Lisa and I will leave this morning heading to Red Lodge, Montana in order to visit with Pastor Lee Merck and his family.  I want to see about the possibilities of the Friendship family becoming directly involved with Legacy of Faith Ministries as far as sending mission teams there.  We are scheduled to return home on Friday night after an overnight layover in Minneapolis, MN.

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

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 18:1-19:14 Hebrews 9:1-10 Psalm 106:32-48 Proverbs 27:10

Today is a big day for the Friendship family as we welcome Bro. Randy deBrabant and seven of our “preacher boys” to our services.  Pray for each of these men as they minister to us today.

A great question has been asked regarding this morning’s schedule – “do I have to attend all three services or can I attend two (which is in effect one service and Sunday School)?  Treat today as a normal Sunday.  We will have our worship services at 8:00 & 10:30AM with our Sunday School at 9:15AM.  The only difference is that our students (6th graders and up) will meet together in the youth building during the 9:15AM hour while our adults will meet together in the auditorium.

As for tonight’s services, same thing.  Discipleship Training hour at 5:00PM but everyone will meet together in the auditorium with the exception of our preschool classes and nursery.  Evening service at 6:00PM with everything being normal.

We are going to receive a special offering in all of the services today which will then be given to these men for their part in today’s services.  Pray and give as the Lord leads.

I was blessed to take part in the celebration of life service for Miss Luthene Herston yesterday at noon.  Deacon TJ Vice then drove me to Tuscaloosa for the Bama game.  We got home at 2:45AM this morning.  Here is the deal with TJ – if you will feed him then he will drive you anywhere!

Soy & Rusty bugged me to death for tickets to the game so I obliged them.  Here is the deal with them – my yard needed some attention i.e. mowing and trimming and they both agreed they would help in exchange for the tickets.  I mowed for three hours on Friday afternoon and another hour and a half yesterday morning without seeing either of them.  Soy said he “forgot” and Rusty said that yesterday was his birthday!  Wow!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 16:42-17:24 Hebrews 8:1-13 Psalm 106:13-31 Proverbs 27:7-9

The visitation with the Luthene Herston family takes place today from 10:00AM until the noon service time at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore, AL.  The service will take place in the chapel.  Pray for the family.

Looking forward to our musical worship tomorrow as Bro. Randy deBrabant will be leading us in all of our services.  Also, looking forward to hearing sons in the ministry – Lance Nicholson, John Womack, John Vickers, Clint Landry, Chris Taylor, Dale Bosarge and Wes Bates.  Friendship family, please be faithful and support these men and their ministries.  We will receive a love offering that will be given to these men.

Pastor Lazaro Suruy arrived home to Guatemala safe and sound yesterday afternoon.  What a great guy!

Our Upward basketball numbers are good right now.  I am told that they are planning on having one more evaluation time this coming week.  Not sure of the details on that one.  I was also told that if five more third & fourth girls sign up there will be enough in that age division to have separate girls and boys leagues.  Will you help us by passing the word?  All ages, five years old through sixth graders, are invited to join these leagues.  Kyle & crew are doing a good job with it.  Could soccer be next?  Heaven help us!

Coach Eric Collier and the THS Bobcats saw their season come to an end last night.  I am thankful that, while Coach Collier teaches football, he is much more into teaching life lessons.  Coach Collier is a fine man!  If I had a son, I would want him playing for a man like Coach Collier.  (Of course, if I had a son he would be the next Jerry West on the basketball court which means he would not be playing football)

Tragic news about the father/son from Mississippi State being killed in the automobile accident yesterday afternoon.  We travel Highway 57 each time we go to Tuscaloosa and it seems like such a safe road.  You never know!

Ok, I realize that seven of our nine readers (we have got to get back into double digits) are most interested in my college football picks so here we go:  Bama over LSWho (just for Rusty), USM will not lose today, A&M over AU, Toledo will have their perfect season ended by NIU, USA over the Vandals, MSU over Mizzou and, in the upset special of the week, the Hogs over the Black Bears (just trying to get  Kendrick awake this morning).  Folks, I have not kept up with it but my percentage of being correct has to be in the 90 – 92% range.  Pretty amazing!

Lord willing, I am heading North in the rain this afternoon and will get home early Sunday morning.  Pray that we will have traveling mercies.

It is supposed to rain in South Mobile County tomorrow but we will be meeting inside – come join us!

BTW, another PSA for our nine readers.  The new Sessions fruit/vegetable stand which is just North of the interstate in Grand Bay is set to open before Thanksgiving.  (I have an inside source so take me at my word!)

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

For a very long time the Friendship family has hosted the senior adults of our community for a meal on the Thursday prior to Thanksgiving.  Cecil Guidry called this morning to share what remaining items are needed:

11 turkeys

7 fruit salads

12 sweet potato casseroles

18 cakes

If you will provide any of these items, please tell Cecil at church this Sunday, 11/8, or call her at 865 4326.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 14:12-16:41 Hebrews 7:18-28 Psalm 106:1-12 Proverbs 27:4-6

This entry is several hours late.  I apologize and will explain later in this entry.

Carla Kyser meets with her doctor today to set up her chemo schedule.

Holly Lybarger is sick once again because of the chemo treatment she received.

Imelda Davis had a sister passed away and she was buried yesterday.  Received word from Miss Kittie that one of Imelda’s brothers passed away during the night last night.  Pray for the family.

Took Lazaro to the airport this morning and he is on his way home.  He left here as a very happy camper.  God is good!

I am in hopes we will have a really strong attendance this Sunday as we welcome Bro. Randy deBrabant back along with seven of our “preacher boys” (they are all grown men now).  Preaching in the 8:00AM, 9:15AM, 10:30AM, 5:00PM and 6:00PM hours.

I hope Coach Eric Collier and his Bobcats win tonight in their game versus Auburn High School.  Coach Eric does a nice job with his team!  Good example for those players.

You remember the guy who cracked his computer screen while killing a fly?  I took his laptop to the Apple store in Birmingham and they did not have the necessary parts to repair it.  Then took it to a certified Apple repair store and they quoted a price that was going to be in excess of five hundred dollars.  I did not think he would want to spend that kind of money on a mid 2009 so I declined.

Last night, Student Pastor Chris Taylor had one of his guys replace the glass.  Total cost parts and labor was just a tad over one hundred dollars.  Bro. CT is the man!

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

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 12:1-14:11 Hebrews 7:1-17 Psalm 105:37-45 Proverbs 27:3

The final night of our revival services was good.  It was definitely our best night attendance wise.  Once again, Pastor Lazaro did a nice job of preaching the Word.  Many thanks to each person who helped in any way and to God be the glory!

Received word from Debbie Kendrick that her nephew, Brian, had an outstanding day yesterday.  Took a couple of steps and ate almost an entire meal – major milestones for him.

There will be one final Upward evaluation tonight.  I believe I am correct in saying that it begins at 5:00PM and ends around 6:00PM.  An Upward coaches meeting will follow.  Pass the word.

Our focus now turns to our services this Sunday, 11/8.  Here is the preaching schedule:  8:00AM – Pastor Lance Nicholson; 9:15AM – Pastor John Womack; 10:30AM – Pastor Clint Landry; 5:00PM – Student Pastor Chris Taylor & Evangelist Dale Bosarge; 6:00PM – Pastor Wes Bates.  Student Pastor John Vickers will be preaching to our 6th – 12th graders during the 9:15AM hour too.

Andy Hamil, will you please call my wife today?  (Your insurance must be due or something like that!)

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

Today’s Bible reading – Ezekiel 10:1-11:25 Hebrews 6:1-20 Psalm 105:16-36 Proverbs 27:1-2

Sorry this entry is late.  I had sent it to Katie Tillman asking her to post it and she must have forgotten (or something like that)!  Remember, she is a blonde.

The celebration of life service for Laurie Chandler’s father takes place this morning at 10:00AM from Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Three Notch Road.  Pray for the pastor brining the message and for the family.

Cynthia Cumbie was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon – amazing!  Absolutely amazing!  She is scheduled to be admitted to a rehab facility once a bed becomes available.  It is a miracle that Cynthia has come home.  I told her so yesterday.

Eddie Whitmore goes for a shot today and that will hopefully get him into a position to receive his chemo treatments again.

Carla Kyser is doing much better.  She sees the doctor on Friday to get scheduled to resume her chemo treatments.

By the way, the celebration of life service for Miss Luthene Herston takes place this Saturday, 11/7, at noon from Serenity Funeral Home.  Visitation with the family takes place from 10:00AM until the service time.

Another good service last night.  The attendance was basically the same as Monday’s.  I have done a poor job of communicating the need for the entire church family to support this effort.  You live and learn!  Pastor Lazaro did a good job of brining the Word to us again last night.  Everything went well.  I am very thankful to those who have supported these services with their prayers and attendance.

Tonight, everyone from the first graders and up will meet in the auditorium at 6:30PM.  There will be no classes or Bible studies.  (We are not having the morning service today either)

I was surprised that Alabama was in the top four last night.  However, not the least bit excited.  It is basically win or go home for them and they have a huge task in front of them this Saturday.  I do know this – the first poll means nothing.  The final poll is all that matters when it comes to winning a national championship.  Rusty has been talking his usual smack about the game this Saturday!

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

Born: 04-19-36 in Newton, Iowa
Died: 11-02-2015 in Mobile, Al

Jack is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, JoAnn; daughter, Laurie (Bob) Chandler and son, Daniel (Donna) Robertson. Five grandchildren- Sharon (Buck) Moses, Adam (Ellen) Robertson, Jeff (Kayla) Chandler, Amy (Evan) Burdette and Austin (Alana) Robertson. Four great grandchildren- Ivey Moses, Colby Moses, Orry Burdette and Easton Chandler. He is also survived by his sister, Linda (James) Greene and many more family and friends.

He served in the Marines from 1954 to 1957. He retired from Scott Paper Company after 31 years.

Jack and JoAnn enjoyed their retirement years motor homing around the U.S.A. and traveling abroad.

He won many awards for his duck and bird carvings.

He was a long standing member of Dayspring Baptist Church.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 on Tuesday, November 3rd. Chapel services will begin at 10:00am Wednesday, November 4th, followed by burial in Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery.