Pastor's Blog

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Acts 9-10

Sharon Jardee’s surgery went well and the doctor was satisfied with the results.  I totally missed her surgery as she had been told it would take place in the afternoon.  However, they apparently took her first so when I got to the hospital at noon she was already in recovery.  I stayed in Mobile for a couple of hours and visited her once she got back to her room.  If all goes well, she will be discharged on Monday.

Our bus ministry workers will meet at 8:30AM today before going out into the fields to visit.  Tomorrow will be the annual bus ministry Thanksgiving meal which will take place immediately following the 10:30AM service.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning.  Lord willing, I will be preaching in both of those services.

Tomorrow evening, 11/20, we will gather at the First United Methodist Church at 6:00PM for the annual community Thanksgiving service.  All members of the Friendship family are encouraged to attend this service.

Our students will be traveling to Gulf Shores and The Factory after tomorrow night’s service.  This will be an all nighter for them.  Some sort of a trampoline park.  Pray for this activity which is being led by our student ministry intern, Josh Schlehuber.

Today is my least favorite Saturday of the college football season.  Alabama and Auburn both play lesser teams which is really no fun.  It is a good payday for the lesser teams but the games are generally boring.  I do look plan to catch some of the Florida vs LSU game.

Speaking of LSU, Rusty came over late yesterday afternoon for a visit.  However, Soy would not walk over and visit.  Rusty was visibly shaken as he seemingly did not realize how hurt Soy is over their break up.  Can you say “Peyton Place?”

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Acts 7-8

Sharon Jardee is scheduled to have surgery at some point today – most likely in the afternoon.  Pray that all will go well and that the doctor will be able to correct the problem.

Lindsey Hatcher is expecting and has been put on bed rest.  I do not remember her exact due date but do know it is some time in December.  TJ told me last night that the possibility is good that she will give birth next Wednesday.  Obviously, it could happen sooner.  Pray for Lindsey and the baby.

The meal yesterday for the senior adults was a huge success!  I cannot begin to say “thank you” enough to each person who helped in any way!  What a blessing you were!  Jennifer Brown did a nice job of sharing the Word in song.  Pastor Bubba Sawyer, 1st Baptist Fairhope, AL, did a nice job of sharing the spoken Word with us.  I had never met Bubba before but what a nice gentleman.  So, we give thanks to many but we give the glory to One!  Our God is an awesome God!

The bus ministry Thanksgiving meal takes place this Sunday, 11/20, immediately following the 10:30AM service.  Pray for this to be meaningful time for those families.

All boxes for Samaritan’s Purse must be turned in this Sunday morning, 11/20.

The Grand Bay community Thanksgiving service takes place this Sunday night, 11/20, beginning at 6:00PM at the 1st United Methodist Church.  I encourage the members of the Friendship family to attend this service as there will be no service, class, Bible study, et cetera at Friendship.

Lazaro & Glendy Suruy are presently in Pell City, Alabama.  They are scheduled to arrive in Grand Bay next Tuesday, 11/22, and stay until Saturday, 12/3.  Two things – if you want to host them for a meal (in home or eat out) then this will be on a first come, first served basis.  (Thanksgiving Day is not an option)  I will be the point man for scheduling them so contact me via e-mail.

If you want to give them personal items to take back to Guatemala, please remember that they have very limited luggage space.  You will need to be willing to pay/help pay for an extra suitcase or two.

Wow, did Houston put it on Louisville or what last night!  I would say so much for their playoff chances.  Arkansas State put a similar whipping on Troy.  Did not see either of those coming!  That is one of the reasons that I love college football!

It is sad.  Real sad!  Soy and Rusty are no longer BFFs.  I asked Soy on Wednesday night, “where is Rusty” and he told me with tears in his eyes that he did not know as they have not spoken in weeks.  I offered to counsel with him but he said it was just too emotional right now.  Wow!

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Acts 4-6

Warren Guidry was discharged from the hospital yesterday.  Praise the Lord!

Sharon Jardee remains hospitalized and is scheduled for surgery tomorrow.  It is “possible” that her surgery could take place today but it will most likely take place tomorrow.  Pray for Sharon!

They drew around one half liter of fluid from Carla Kyser’s lung yesterday.  This will help her breathing.  (It would probably help her breathing if she did not talk so much but that is a different story!)

Today is a big day for the Friendship family as we will host the annual Thanksgiving meal for the senior adults of our community.  I estimate there will be two hundred twenty five or so seniors gather for this meal.  Pray for the singer, the speaker and everyone involved in this day of ministry.  May it all be done to the glory of God!

We need folks (at least twelve) to come at 9:00AM to help do the final preparations.  We then need a small army to help take down and store the tables, put the chairs back in their rightful places and clean up.  That process will begin around noon.

I really appreciate the flexibility of the adults who attended our 6:30PM Bible study last night.  They were moved to a different location and they were more than flexible.  I am told that our student Bible study went very well in the auditorium.

Steve Morris has given the back forty a fresh mowing and it looks really nice!  I  appreciate the effort Steve has given in keeping that area looking good!

Well, I thought I was going to have to apologize to Bob Evans but “not so fast my friend!”  I asked what one calls a group of horses and Bob said a “team!”  Debbie Hyatt says that is correct.  It is but only if you are talking about working horses and I was not talking about working horses.  The general term would be a “herd” of horses.  Hey, even if that is not correct I am not admitting that Bob was right!

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Acts 1-3

How about some really great news to begin this entry?  Peggy Knighten called me yesterday afternoon to say that Tim Knighten’s PET scan revealed that his cancer is contained to one area which is basically the base of his tongue – no cancer in the lymph nodes or any other place in his body!  Hallelujah!  Yes, Tim will still receive radiation and chemotherapy.  He will still have to have a feeding tube.  However, this cancer being isolated to one place is huge!  So, join Tim, Peggy and family in giving thanks to God!  Keep praying!

Sharon Jardee has been admitted to the hospital again.  The most recent surgery was not a success and she will have another surgery this Friday, 11/18, to correct the problem.  Wow, she has been through it!

Warren “Blow Joe” Guidry was doing well when I visited yesterday and is thinking he will be discharged from the hospital today.

Sandra McElwee sent me a message late yesterday afternoon saying that David was being discharged around 6:00PM.  Sandra was a little nervous about taking him home and being the nurse but they will do great.

Wow!  I put out an eleventh hour request yesterday morning asking folks to meet me in our CAB at 10:00AM in order for us to clean the building and to set up the tables and chairs for the senior adults Thanksgiving meal.  I was delayed until 10:30AM in getting back from the hospital.  I stopped by the church to tell them that I needed to change clothes before coming back and we had a group of guys who had the building cleaned already and all of the tables in place.  They had already started on the chairs and in just a few minutes everything was in place and ready for the meal.  Amazing!  In the meanwhile a group of ladies were in the fellowship hall cooking dressing and it looked amazing!  So, I was extremely blessed.  It reminded me again of how blessed I am to serve as the pastor of such a wonderful church family.  (By the way, some folks who work secular jobs contacted me yesterday to say that they would come clean/set up last night.  Another blessing!)

Now, another request.  We will need to reverse the process tomorrow once the meal ends at noon.  We have to get all of the tables and chairs back into their place and clean the CAB.  All help will be appreciated!

Regular schedule this morning and evening.  One major change – our students will all meet together in the auditorium at 6:30PM.  Jim Chinners will be teaching and Jonny Gaston will be leading the worship.  The adults who normally meet in the auditorium for Bible study at 6:30PM will meet in the youth building.

If you sent me an e-mail or iMessage over the weekend, please note that I intentionally avoided electronic communications on Sunday.  Actually did not check messages until either late Sunday night or Monday morning.  I was swamped with messages.  I was traveling all day on Monday and had a meeting on Monday night.  I was in meetings a good part of the day yesterday regarding some of those messages.  So, I have not answered any of this messages up to this point but here is my hope for today – prepare for the morning service, teach the morning service, visit the hospital along with a couple of other folks, and then “begin” replying to the messages.  If it was not urgent in matter then I will probably not get a chance to reply.  My Sunday was completely filled so even if I had checked and  wanted to answer messages there really was not time in my schedule.  I hope you understand.

Some additional requests have been made for our angel tree.  There is a need for two more sponsors.  Interested?  Contact Glenda Chinners.  Thank you!

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

This is truly an eleventh hour request and I am in hopes that our thirteen readers of the blog can help get the word out.  I plan on being in the CAB at 10:00AM today (Tuesday) in order to clean and set up for Thursday’s meal.  All help will be appreciated.  Pass the word!  Thank you!

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Luke 24; John 20-21

This entry is late and for that I apologize.  No excuses.  Blame it on Dr. Rex Looney.

Lisa and I visited with David & Sandra McElwee in a Birmingham hospital yesterday.  David is doing well in his recovery and we had a good visit.  It is always good to see David!  Hopefully, he will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

I will be visiting Blow Joe Guidry this morning.  I am thinking he may be discharged from the hospital today.

Not sure if Miss Mary Jackson was discharged yesterday or not.

Did not talk to Tim or Peggy yesterday but assume his PET scan took place.  Should have those results in a couple of days.

Did I hear from Carla Kyser?  Are you serious?

Pretty good attendance at our prayer time last night.  Thank you to all who attended.  Thank you to Bro. Jerry Hovel for setting things up for that prayer time as he was not sure of my returning home time.

Good meeting with prospective student ministry committee members last night.  Our goal is to have an active student ministry committee in place by the beginning of 2017.

To those cooking turkeys for this Thursday’s senior adult meal.  It has been requested that you sliced the turkey and bring the white meat and dark meat in separate zip loc type bags.  It all needs to be in the CAB by 9:00AM on Thursday morning, 11/17.  If you do not know how to slice a turkey, just let me know and we will take care of that for you.  (Or, if you do not have time to do the slicing)

Speaking of Dr. Rex Looney, I did get to see him this past Sunday night at the retirement celebration for Dr. Jack Bailey.  As usual, he tried to borrow money but some things never change.

I am basically in a boycott the NFL and the NBA phase of my life right now.  What does that mean?  Not much as I basically never watch any of those games anyway until the playoffs begin and then it is on a limited basis.

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Matthew 28; Mark 16

Tuesday, November 15 – Luke 24; John 20-21
Wednesday, November 16 – Acts 1-3
Thursday, November 17 – Acts 4-6
Friday, November 18 – Acts 7-8
Saturday, November 19 – Acts 9-10
Sunday, November 20 – Acts 11-12

Good morning from Decatur, Alabama.  Lisa and I attended the evening service at Danville Baptist Church which was a retirement celebration for Pastor Jack Bailey.  Great crowd and really good service.  Back in the day I would have driven home last night but we want to visit David McElwee in the hospital on our way home today.  So, we will be traveling soon.

Bro. Jerry sent an update sharing that Blow Joe Guidry is doing good as he has been doing some walking.  That is great!

Miss Mary Jackson may be discharged from the hospital today.

David McElwee was moved from the unit into a regular room yesterday.  He is doing well too.

Tim Knighten is set for a PET scan today.  Pray that goes well.

Carla Kyser has a visit with the doctor today.  How did the “fun day” for Carla go this past Saturday?  Great question!  However, she has told me nothing!  Just saying!

GROW tonight at 6:00PM.

Prayer time in the auditorium from 5:00 – 7:00PM.

Meeting with potential student ministry committee members tonight at 7:00PM.  Only folks interested in potentially serving on the student committee need to attend.  That means one can be involved in the Wednesday night Bible studies, will attend and chaperone student ministry activities, et cetera.  Attending this meeting will give us a starting point for selecting this committee.

I am told that we had good services yesterday.  I appreciate Bro. Jerry & Derrick filling in for me.

I was able to attend a Sunday School class taught by Jeff Garner.  Jeff & I went to school together.  He did a really good job of teaching that class.

It was a joy to attend the church service with my parents yesterday morning.  I am thankful to God for my family.  I also enjoyed hearing Dr. Jack preach.

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Luke 23; John 18-19

Happy 60th wedding anniversary to my parents as they were married on Tuesday, November 13, 1956.  It will be joy for me to join my parents,  siblings and family in worship this morning.  Thank you Friendship family for allowing this to happen.

No news is good news (or so they say) so I am believing that Blow Joe Guidry and David McElwee are both doing well in their recovery from their respective open heart surgeries this past Friday.  Keep praying!

Regular schedule at Friendship today and tonight.  Bro. Jerry Hovel will be preaching this morning.  Derrick & Jodie Wilkerson will be sharing this evening.  Randall Broome will be leading the musical worship in all of the services.  Jeanette Bates will be leading the choir this morning.  It is going to be a good day.

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – Matthew 27; Mark 15

Warren “Blow Joe” Guidry had five by-passes and did well.  Obviously, he is in the CCU for at least a couple of days.  We thank God for watching over him and I ask that you keep praying for Blow Joe, Cecil and family.

David McElwee had three by-passes and did well.  He too is in the CCU for a couple of days.  Again, thank God for being with him and keep praying for David, Sandra and family.

Miss Mary Jackson is doing very well.  Not sure when she will be discharged from the hospital.  She is thankful for the many prayers being offered on her behalf.

Carla Kyser came by Lisa’s office yesterday and left me a t-shirt in hopes that I would mention the “fun day” being held in her honor today from 8:00AM until noon at Bryant High School.  Does she think I am that easy?  Well, I am not.  So I am not going to mention the run, food, entertainment, games, et cetera that will all be happening today.

By the way, Carla’s visit with the doctor last Wednesday was postponed until this Monday, 11/14.  Pray for Carla and all of the others battling cancer.

Tim Knighten’s PET scan is scheduled to take place on Monday as well.  Keep praying for Tim!

Lisa and I, along with our entire family, are in Birmingham.  We will all eventually make our way to Rocky Ford, Alabama in order to celebrate my parent’s sixtieth wedding anniversary tomorrow.  I need to stop by Tuscaloosa today before heading North.

Bro. Jerry Hovel will be preaching in our two morning services tomorrow.  Derrick & Jodie Wilkerson will be sharing in our evening service.  We will be on a regular schedule.  My prayer is that the members of the Friendship family will be faithful to attend.

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

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

Today’s Bible reading – John 14-17

Happy fifth birthday to our granddaughter, Lizzi!  She has the easiest birth date to remember  as it is 11/11/11!  She was born at 11:16AM.  (Would have been 11:11AM but Soy had to go to the bathroom!)  We had a celebration for Lizzi last night and I hope her day is blessed!

A huge “thank you” to all of our veterans on this Veterans Day.  This is a day to celebrate all of those men and women who have served our country in the military.  Hopefully, our president elect will keep his promise of not forsaking our veterans!

Two major surgeries first thing this morning – Warren “Blow Joe” Guidry will have heart by pass surgery.  How many by passed will be done?  I am not sure if they ever nailed it down but I do know he has multiple blockages.  Pray for Blow Joe, Cecil and the family.

David McElwee will also be having heart by pass surgery this morning.  He is in Birmingham.  Pray that everything goes well during his surgery and for Sandra & family as they wait beside him.

Remember, the fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration that as set to surprise Sammy & Myrtle Bowden and Warren & Cecil Guidry has been postponed.  It was supposed to take place tonight but Blow Joe’s surgery has changed everything.

The celebration of life service for Calvin Crist takes place today.  Pray for Courtney and the family.  I am sure Calvin made his share of mistakes along the way but, in my opinion, he did one thing very well in raising Courtney.  She is a sweetheart!  I truly love Courtney and Chris!  What a dedicated young family!

I will be visiting Miss Mary Jackson this morning to get an update on her procedure from yesterday.  Bro. Jerry was with her during that time but I have not spoken to him since it was finished.

I am still miffed at Carla Kyser so I refuse to mention the “fun day/color run” set for tomorrow at Bryant High School from 8:00AM until noon.  No mention of the run, the games, the food, et cetera.  Folks, I am teaching Carla a lesson and hopefully she will learn from it!

I pray daily for Greg Boutwell.  It saddens me that Greg cannot be involved in our services any longer as he was the epitome of faithfulness.  He loved to teach Sunday School and did a really good job of being prepared.  As the Lord brings him to your mind, pray for Greg.  (I mentioned how well Calvin did by raising Courtney.  Greg also raised a daughter, Kim.  I will just not have any comment!)

Pray for those battling cancer.  Tim Knighten’s PET scan has been scheduled for this Monday, 11/14.

Lord willing, all of our family will leave at some point today heading to Birmingham/Danville as we will celebrate my parent’s sixtieth wedding anniversary this Sunday.   Our entire family will join them in church and we will then enjoy a meal together.  I will then be involved in a retirement roast on Sunday evening for Pastor Jack Bailey.  (If he has not joined Al S in moving to Canada)  Lisa and I will return home on Monday, Lord willing.

In my absence, Bro. Jerry Hovel will preach in our two morning services.  Pray for him as he prepares and preaches.  Then, Derrick & Jodie Wilkerson will be sharing in our evening service.

Hopefully, I will do another entry today with an update on Blow Joe & David (Sandra, help me!).

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