Pastor's Blog

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Leslie Hacker’s brother, Lonnie, passed from this life last night.  “Absent from the body, present with the Lord” is the confidence Leslie and family have now.  Pray for Leslie, Judy, Pastor Mel, Ashley and the family as they walk through this valley.

Clara Broadus’ mother, Miss Cora Martin, is in the hospital.  I hope to check on her today.  Pray for Miss Cora.

Carol Lucky was not able to attend our services yesterday.  She is home but continues to need our prayer support.

We had a really good day in our services yesterday morning and evening.  I have gotten very positive feedback from the message preached by Joseph Meredith last night.

Rick Bradley, Jimmy Tagert and Grant Tillman were elected by the Friendship family last night to serve as deacons.  We will be ordaining Grant at a later date – possibly the second or third Sunday evening in August.

We need folks to attend the AWANA training in Spanish Fort on Saturday, August 3.  If you are willing to attend then please contact Elizabeth Westbrook as soon as possible.

Bobby and the boys split with the Braves this weekend.  They should have just given the teams off as nothing changed in the standings as a result of those four games.  The Nationals still lead the Wild Card standings while the Braves lead the NL East.

Lord willing, I will leave early in the morning heading to Guatemala.  The team will join me on Thursday.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

This entry is way late.  As you know, I am out of town and Katie Tillman had told me that she would cover for me.  She obviously did not.  Go figure!

Carol Lucky sent me an e-mail to let me know that she will be discharged from the hospital today.  That is the good news.  The not so good news is that she continues to have problems with her kidneys and will most likely have to go on dialysis.  Carol is a lady of strong faith in Jesus so she continues to trust Him.  Keep praying for Carol.

My dad’s procedure went well very late yesterday afternoon.  He was actually a model patient for the most part.  We finally got him home around 7:30PM.  Once again I have to give a ton of credit to my brother, Eddie, and his wife, Sue, as they are truly the caregivers for dad and mama.  They have done a great job.  I cannot be there as they are because of distance but I did “pay” Eddie yesterday afternoon for shouldering my share too.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Deacon election Sunday night.  No baptismal service.

Bobby and the boys basically spanked the Braves last night and are now with five and one half games of first place in the NL East. Go Nats!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Carol Lucky was much improved when I visited with her yesterday afternoon.  She is having some issues with her kidneys but her standing, walking, et cetera are much better.  Praise the Lord and keep praying for Carol.

I saw four others in the respective hospitals yesterday.  Three of the four are better.  The fourth one is in a difficult spot according to the medical professionals.  Pray for these folks.

Good day in our services yesterday.  We give God the glory.

Bobby and the boys took it on the chin last night but the Braves also lost.  The Nationals will be in Atlanta playing the Braves tonight.  I am in hopes the Nats can make up some ground during this series.

Lisa and I will be driving North today in order to be present for my dad’s procedure and to deliver some goods to the next mission team.  Lord willing, we will be back Saturday and I will be in the pulpit Sunday.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Visited Carol Lucky in the hospital yesterday.  They are doing testing but are not exactly sure the root cause of her problems.  Carol is a very strong believer and a very positive person.  Her husband, Terry, is right beside her and will be until she makes him go home and mow the yard!  Keep praying for Carol.

There are others in the hospital who are not from the Friendship family but are connected to folks within the Friendship family.  I do not publicize those names unless I have specific permission.  However, those folks do need our prayer support.

We are on a regular schedule on our campus this morning and tonight.  I plan on teaching in the auditorium both times.

We are going to host a special community prayer service on Wednesday, August 7, beginning at 6:30PM.  It will be based on II Chronicles 7:14-15.  I am not sure how many of our community churches will join us but I do know that the Grand Bay Community Church and the Grand Bay Church of God will be with us.  Note the date and make plans to attend.

I am aggravated at the Dodgers this morning so I will not make comment on their loss last night.  Bobby and the boys won which allowed them to pick up one game on the Braves because of their loss.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Carol Lucky was admitted to the hospital Sunday and remains there this morning.  Pray for Carol.

Gregg Hearon, former resident of Grand Bay and member of the Friendship family, passed from this life on June 11.  The following comes from his online obituary: “a Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 12pm at Church of the Highlands Auburn Campus located at 2001 E Samford Ave. Auburn, AL 36830.”  This is simply a FYI.  Pray for Jan and the family during this time.

My dad will be having a surgical procedure this Thursday, 7/18.  Lord willing, Lisa and I will be driving up.  I will actually be trying to kill two stones with one bird as I need to get “stuff” to the folks from North Alabama who are taking part in our next GRACE Ministries trip which is 7/25 – 8/1.

Speaking of the GRACE Ministries trip, one of our guys who will be going on the trip is allowing another one of our guys to house sit while he is away.  Talk about a win/win situation!

My friend, Pastor Bob Harvey, often says, “we are better together” and while this is not an original of his it carries much truth.  That was illustrated this past Sunday when folks in Panama City, FL formed a human chain to save a person who was caught in the rip current.  Great illustration of how the body of Christ can be more effective when working together.

Leslie Hacker’s Braves are on fire!  They are now seven and one half games ahead of Bobby & the boys in the NL East.  However, Bobby & the boys enjoy a two game lead in the wild card race.  Pastor Wes Bates’ beloved Cubbies continue to lead the NL Central by two games.  The Dodgers are doing pretty good in the NL West as well.

I think there are like forty days left before the beginning of Fall practice for the college football teams.  I am ready for that season to be here.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

This entry is a couple of hours late.  My apologies.  No excuses.

Carol Lucky was taken to the hospital yesterday and was found to be dehydrated.  When Carol misses church on a Sunday morning then you know something is wrong.  I am not sure if they kept Carol or hydrated her and sent her home.  Regardless, pray for Carol.

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  The preacher sounded absolutely terrible in the morning services.  I apologize.  Larry & his dad did a nice job in the service last night.  Thank you for giving to help the trip to Africa be a success.

Our AWANA meeting was well attended.  We are now looking for folks willing to attend a training in Spanish Fort on Saturday, August 3, from 8:30AM until 2:00PM.  I am especially asking the parents of elementary age children and below who are not teaching Sunday School to step up and help lead this ministry.  Questions?  Contact me or Elizabeth Westbrook.

We will elect three deacons this Sunday evening, 7/21.  Nominees are Rick Bradley, Bill Kendrick, Jimmy Tagert and Grant Tillman.  Make this a matter of prayer.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Happy 39th wedding anniversary to my wife, Lisa.   Outside of the day I got saved, best day of my life!  Lisa is an absolute sweetheart!  She deserves so much more than me and I am very grateful to have her as a wife, mother to our children and grandmother to our grandchildren.  She also makes a great State Farm agent!  Just saying!

The celebration of life service for Matt Everett’s father takes place tonight at the Bayou La Batre Church of God beginning at 6:00PM.  Thanks to Sonny Bates Sunday School class (40-49) for feeding the family last night.  Keep praying for the Everett family.

It is almost 5:00AM, there is a storm in the Gulf and Kendall has not given me an update this morning.  You simply cannot get good help these days!  I am glad that we are not dealing directly with the storm but I do hope we get some rain.

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

We will meet at 5:00PM this Sunday, 7/14, in the auditorium to begin discussing the AWANA ministry.  Any persons interested in serving through this ministry is asked to attend.  Pass the word!

MLB begins the second half tonight (one game last night) and now folks are thinking Bobby & the boys will grab one of the wild card slots into the playoffs.  That would be sweet!

SEC media days in Hoover beginning Monday.  Just a bunch of window dressing.  Let’s get on with Fall camp!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

The celebration of life service for Matt Everett’s father will take place tomorrow night, 7/12, at the Bayou La Batre Church of God on Argyle Road beginning at 6:00PM.  Please continue to pray for the Everett family.

Dale & Karla leave this morning heading to Kansas City.  They were supposed to leave out of New Orleans tomorrow morning but the storm changed that to today our of Pensacola.  Pray for a good night of ministry.

We were blessed with a good day in our services yesterday.  Praise the Lord!

It appears the storm will bring us some rain on the Coast.  Time will tell.

A meeting about the AWANA ministry takes place this Sunday, 7/14, in the auditorium beginning at 5:00PM.  This is for any persons interested in helping with this ministry.  Pass the word!

Our December 4 – 11, 2019 GRACE Ministries trip has some openings.  E-mail me for details or to sign up.

Our June 18 – 25, 2020 trip is almost completely filled.  E-mail me yesterday if you plan on taking part.  I assume nothing.

I was in the garden early yesterday morning and then from 4:30 – 5:30PM.  It was hot each time!  Bob Evans did come in the afternoon and “watch” me work.  Thanks, Bob!

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Matt Everett called me yesterday shortly after noon to share that his father has passed from this life.  Pray for Matt’s mother and the family as they walk through this valley.  Arrangements pending.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

I failed to mention yesterday that Randall Broome and my wife, Lisa, both eulogized their cousin, Angela, at the service on Tuesday.  They both did an excellent job.  Randall also hit it out of the park with his singing with Rita joining him on one song.

Have I mentioned that folks interested in taking part in our June 2020 GRACE Ministries trip need to sign up yesterday?  Do not say “I did not know” when it is completely filled and you find yourself on the outside looking in.

Deidra is meeting/interviewing parents of prospective students for the school in Guatemala.  Those interviews are taking place from 10:00AM until 6:00PM every day from yesterday until this Sunday.  We need parents to understand the importance of education for their children.  Pray that they will take this to heart and that their children will help change their country for the better.

We got rain on the hill yesterday – hooray!  While it was nothing measurable it was rain and it was so nice.  I am much like my friend, Pastor Jack Bailey, in that I love the rain.  If the forecasters are correct, we could be seeing rain for the next several days.  It appears that the “storm” will become a reality at some point today or tomorrow.  If so, that could greatly enhance our rainfall totals.  Kendall Falana’s side job is weather forecaster and he basically never gets it wrong so count on the storm becoming a reality.

The college football season is just around the corner.  I am ready.

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

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

Markee Brinkman saw the doctor yesterday as will be the case weekly for some time.  They are obviously monitoring his situation closely with surgery still being a possible option at some point.  Join me in praying for Markee to heal properly without needing additional surgery.

Keep praying for Matt Everett’s father.

Miss Annette Williams continues to recover at home from her recent surgery.  Continued prayers appreciated.

Deidra posted a blog yesterday sharing that Lydia’s baby was discharged from the hospital Saturday afternoon.  Praise the Lord.  You would do well to read Deidra’s blog (shininglightabroad.com) for the details.

My dad was discharged from the hospital last night.  He is a happy camper.  Mama maybe not so much!  He still has a way to go to  be completely healed.  I appreciate the prayers.  By the way, my older brother, Eddie, has done an excellent job of being there for our parents.  He gets an A+.

I do not do social media.  However, it is my understanding that the service for the pilot who was killed in the plane crash in Guatemala on June 27 (actually passed from this life on June 28) will take place today, July 9.  That service will take place in Texas.  I do not have an update on the other pilot who was injured in the same crash.  Pray for these situations.

I have a distinct feeling that some folks who always join us on our June GRACE trip are going to miss next year’s trip because they are delaying their signing up.  Again, I assume nothing about anyone when it comes to those who will take part in these trips.  If you plan on participating in June 2020 then you really should contact me via e-mail yesterday!

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