Pastor's Blog

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

We were blessed with three good services yesterday.  It is now evident that most members of the Friendship family used this past weekend as their “holiday” weekend.  However, we had a good attendance in our early service and a not so bad attendance in our evening service.  I am grateful for a people who are faithful.

Matt Everett’s father is home and is receiving medical care there.  Keep praying for Matt’s parents and the entire Everett family.

The celebration of life service for Ann & Bobby’s niece, Angela Turner, takes place today beginning at 11:00AM.  Pray for the family as they walk through this valley.  Randall Broome will be ministering in song in that service today and I will be bringing the message.  Pray for God to be glorified.

My dad remains in the hospital.  He is very eager to be discharged.  That could happen today.  May not.  If he is not discharged today then you may want to pray for the nurses charged with caring for him!  Just saying!

Our June 2020 GRACE trip is now real close to being completely filled.  If you want to join us on that trip then e-mail me like yesterday!  Remember, I assume nothing when it comes to who is going.

Keeping an eye on the tropics and thinking we may get some rain later this week.  God knows and we trust Him.

Bobby and the boys had a nice June and early July.  They are five games above five hundred and are six games behind Leslie Hacker’s Braves in the NL East.  However, they are now leading the wild card race.  The Dodgers have lost three in a row but they do finish the first half of the season with a fairly sizable lead in the NL West.  Pastor Wes Bates’ Cubbies are leading the NL Central.  I am pulling for Bobby & the boys to make the playoffs.  Pray for Bobby to continue to be a strong witness.

Here is how you know when you have too much money – you own a business and you just shut it down from Thursday, July 4, through Thursday, July 11, 2019!  In other words, you are making so much money that you need a week or so just to count your profits!  WOW!

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)

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

Deacons meet at 5:00PM.  Regular meeting place.

Personnel Committee meets at 5:30PM in the 20-29 Sunday School room.

The celebration of life service for Ann & Bobby’s niece will take place tomorrow morning, 7/8, beginning at 11:00AM.  It will be held in the chapel of the Jones Funeral Home in Richton, Mississippi.  There will be a visitation with the family tonight, 7/7, from 6:00 until 9:00PM also at the funeral home.  Pray for the family.

My dad will remain in the hospital until at least Monday.  He is better but remains highly contagious.  Thank you for your prayer support.

Our June 2020 GRACE trip is filling fast – real fast.  If you plan on taking part then you best send me an e-mail like five minutes ago!  We already have thirty three spots filled.  Just saying!

Lisa spent Friday night and yesterday on the island.  As a matter of fact, the entire hill was empty on Friday night with the exception of me.  However, that did not keep Lisa from leaving me a list of things to get done yesterday.  So, I worked outside from around 7:00AM until just after around 2:15PM.  Folks, it was hot!  I tried to explain the heat index (107 – 108) to Lisa.  Her reply, “same as it was yesterday and that did not stop you from fishing!  Get busy and stop whining!”  Push mowing and working in the garden presented the biggest challenges but it got done.

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

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

Bobby Broome and Ann Clark’s niece, Angela, passed from this life around 8:00PM last night.  Arrangements pending.  Pray for the family.  I think I remember Randall saying she was forty six years old.

Matt Everett has done an excellent job of keeping me updated on his father’s condition.  Yesterday, the sent Mr. Everett home where he will now be receiving his care.  Please continue to pray for Matt’s parents, Matt, Jennifer and the family.

My dad was admitted to the hospital yesterday morning.  He has been diagnosed as having Clostridium difficile.  He was very dehydrated.  He is now on a liquid diet.  He is also highly contagious.  Prayers appreciated.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening on our campus.  Deacons meet at 5:00PM.

Well, we survived the fishing expedition yesterday.  First, I have to say “thank you” to Edd Gillespie for being such a gracious host.    I had not been snapper fishing since 2012.  (Wonder how many times Joey, Johnny Five and Grant have been since 2012?  I am not bitter!)  At any rate, we caught our limit of twelve red snapper, one black snapper and one king mackerel (Edd).  How did Bob do?  He did great as he caught three red and the black.

Let me clarify a couple of things.  Bob is the only adult I have ever been fishing with who wore arm floats.  Yes, they had the new Avengers on them but they were arm floats nonetheless.  Said he felt safe with them on.  Edd had three deck hands – James Gregory, Wyatt Bosarge & Ty “Little Ray” Roberts.  The deck hands would hook the fish, reel it in almost all of the way, and then hand Bob the rod & reel so he could “catch” the fish.

I never touched a piece of bait or a fish all day.  Wyatt baited my hook and removed the two fish that I caught – talk about nice!

However, I did learn something from Wyatt.  His father, Joey Bosarge, also goes snapper fishing regularly.  Never been invited to join him either!  I also had to let Little Ray know that his grandmother dips but does not spit – he was amazed!

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

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

Today marks Lisa’s brother’s fifty first birthday.  Unbelievable that Michael would be over fifty if his life would have continued here on Earth.

Bobby Broome & Ann Clark have a niece who is in her forties.  She has been on life support for some days now and the decision has been made to remove the life support this morning.  The medical personnel do not think she will live long once the support is removed.  Pray for this situation.

We are on a regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.  Deacons meet at 5:00PM.

Late yesterday afternoon Kenzie & Sienna brought us ice cream from Lucedale, MS.  It is so good!  What a thoughtful gesture by these two young ladies.

My morning of the fourth was spent in the garden as I am in clean up mode.  It was hot!  My nephew, Josh, his wife and their two children came for a couple of hours in the early afternoon.  It was great seeing them.

For the first time since 2012, I am going red snapper fishing today.  Thanks to Joey Guidry?  Johnny Five?  Grant Tillman?  Tony Hacker?  David French?  No, no, no, no & no!  Thanks to Edd Gillespie!

Special prayer request – real special!  I am taking Bob Evans fishing with us today!  What?  I know!  Pray for me and every other guy on the boat!  At least we will have a “Bob story” to tell!

Do not look now but Bobby & the boys have moved into second place in the NL East.  Go Nationals!

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)

Happy Independence Day!  I pray that you will have a great day with Jesus.  Be safe!

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

The best news that I can share this morning is that Deidra and the girls arrived on GRACE Mountain safe and sound last night around 10:30PM their time.  The Lord worked a small miracle regarding their luggage but that is what He does.  I thank God for His many blessings!  He is a good, good Father.

Randall & Rita were joined by four ladies and deacon Carl Ray Moulds in ministering at McKemie Place last night.  (One of the ladies was late arriving because she got lost.  Blonde?  Not saying!)   I appreciate Randall & Rita leading this ministry.

No services/classes today on our campus.  The church office closes at noon and will be closed until Monday morning at 8:00AM.  Please pass the word.

Zach and crew should arrive back in Grand Bay around 10:00 – 11:00AM today.  Pray for their safety in traveling back from New Orleans.

If the schedule went as planned then Larry Crawley should have returned home from his mission trip to Africa yesterday.  Looking forward to hearing what God did during the trip.

I failed to mention yesterday that in addition to the vegetables and cheesecake I have been given since my return home, we also got a bottle of Luke Green’s honey.  Thanks, Luke!

Sometimes Bob Evans joins me in going to Juanita’s for “taco Tuesday.”  He was out of town yesterday so one of his boys, Eddie Albritton, joined me instead of Bob.  It was basically just like having Bob with me!  Just saying!

Oh, one more thing I have gotten since being home.  Joey Guidry & Johnny Five gave me their ticket at Juanita’s yesterday!  I decided to model Jesus even though they have not even offered to take me red snapper fishing.  BTW, Grant Tillman has not taken me either as he has not even gotten to go himself according to his wife – whatever!  (I could throw David French and Tony Hacker in this mix too but I am going to be bigger than that!).

Bobby and the boys are now only one game out of the wild card spot and six games out of first in the NL East.  The Dodgers walked to victory last night!

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)

Maybe this entry should be titled, “Welcome Back Kotter?”  No young adults below thirty five or so would have a clue.  At any rate, I have been absent for the past four mornings.  Will explain later.

I have been the recipient of some really nice stuff since I got home.  John Milton Ladnier showed up with a boat load of vegetables Saturday afternoon.  The man and his generosity with his home grown vegetables is amazing!  Sunday morning I was given a cheesecake from Hope’s Cheesecake in Gulf Shores.  Blakeley Cavin was the giver!  She is a Crimson Tide fan in the making and we share that special bond!  I can so see her playing the Million Dollar Band in just a few years.  Chris & Courtney are going to be so proud!  Just saying!

Zach Huhn, chaperones and a group of students left Sunday afternoon heading to Mission Lab in New Orleans.  Things have gone well as they have done mission work in the daytime and then had time in worship and the Word in the evenings.  They are set to return home tomorrow somewhere around 10:00 – 11:00AM.  Pray for this group!

Matt Everett’s father remains in the hospital.  No major change but he still needs our prayer support.

Martin & Jennifer Brinkman’s son, Markee, injured his neck again this past Sunday morning.  He is now in a different type of brace.  Could need additional surgery but I ask you to join me in praying that will not be so.  Pray for the miracle of complete healing.

Miss Annette Williams continues to recover at home from her surgery.

Ethan & Brittney Nelson had some anxious moments with their daughter last night as she was transported via ambulance to the hospital.  However, she was later discharged and all is well.  Praise the Lord!

I ask that you c0ntinue to pray for our dear friends, Decker & Martha Terry, in Montgomery.  What a sweet, godly couple.

Randall & Rita Broome will lead the ministry at McKemie Place tonight beginning at 6:00PM.  Everyone invited to join them.

No services/classes on our campus tomorrow morning or evening.  The church office closes at noon and will be closed on Thursday too.

Pastor Wes & Rebekah Bates ministered at the Mission of Hope last Friday night and I truly appreciate them doing so.

I arrived home on Friday afternoon late and walked in to eight lively tornadoes!  They never lost their punch all weekend.  This morning Lisa and I took Deidra and the girls to the Mobile airport so they can return to Guatemala.  Man, that was tough for this dad/grandfather.  So, I spent as much time as I could with Deidra and/or the girls which is the largest reason for no blog.

One of our senior ladies told me this past Sunday morning that she recently purchased a device that now allows her to read the blog.  Our readership is now back up to ten – we had slipped some in recent months.

Brad & Daphne celebrated their twelfth wedding anniversary this past Sunday.  Where does time go?  I basically forgot theirs and will forget Soy & Deidra’s too so let me just say “happy anniversary” to everyone!

Bobby and the boys are above five hundred and are only one and half games out of the wild card race.  Hack’s Braves continue to set the pace in the NL East.  The Dodgers are doing decent in the NL West.

I pray that you will have a great rest of your Tuesday.  Pray for Deidra and the girls as their flight fro ATL leaves around 5:30PM our time.