Pastor's Blog

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Happy birthday, Coach Saban!  (Most folks are unaware that Coach is one of the thirteen readers of this blog)

“Fall” back one hour before going to bed tonight.  Yes, you supposedly “gain” an hour tonight.  My favorite Sunday of the year when it comes to time.

“Trail of Truth and Treats” on the back forty today from 3:00 – 5:00PM.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow.  Deacons will meet at 4:00PM.  November mission team will meet at 5:00PM.  AWANA ministry at 5:00PM and children’s choir at 6:00PM.

I received a phone call last night with some great news – we got a green light!  What?  Think container in Guatemala.  There was a ten percent chance we would get a green light.  How many folks know that God works extremely well when the situation seems dire?  Thank you to all who prayed.  It appears the container will be on GRACE Mountain on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Praise the Lord!  To God be the glory!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

This entry is being written shortly after 10:30PM on Thursday night, 10/29.  Why?  Because I presently have access to the internet and that may not be the case in the morning.

Just drove to Highway 90 in Grand Bay (downtown) to see if Lisa’s office has electricity.  It does.  As a matter of fact, every business and residence I passed between here and there has electricity with the exception of two houses.  I am happy for those who now have had their electricity restored.  Good stuff!  Many of our neighbors in Irvington & Bayou La Batre basically never lost their electricity.  Good for them!

Trail of Truth and Treats tomorrow afternoon on the back forty.

“Fall back” one hour this Saturday night, 10/31, before going to bed.  This is my favorite Sunday of the year when it comes to time.

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

The church office will be closed today, Thursday, 10/29, as there is no electricity on our campus.

Not sure about soccer tonight but that area is a mess.  Bro Abel will make that call this morning.

Regular schedule this Sunday morning and evening.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

There are no activities on our campus this morning or evening.  Pass the word, please.

Annie Gazzier passed from this life on Monday night.  Her husband, Jim Gazzier, passed from this life yesterday afternoon.  Pray for the family as they walk through this valley.

Cecil Guidry sent me a message yesterday morning saying she would be having a heart cath later in the day.  She did.  Now she is scheduled for triple bypass surgery next Wednesday.  Oh my!  Pray for Cecil.

I do not have an update on Sharon’s surgery.  Just keep praying.

Pray for the container in Guatemala to be released in a timely manner.  Pray for my brother, Eddie, to get his renewed passport prior to 11/10 as he needs to be on the trip to Guatemala to help with some business matters.

We have openings on the December 1 – 8, 2020 GRACE Ministries trip to Guatemala.  Airfares are good right now but are subject to change without notice.  Interested in joining us?  Contact me immediately if not sooner!

By the way, the church office will be open tomorrow from 8:00AM until noon and then 1:00PM until 4:00PM.  Pray for those who are in Zeta’s path.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

My sister, Melissa, celebrated her forty sixth birthday yesterday and my brother, Freddie, celebrates his fifty sixth birthday today. Happy belated birthday to Melissa and happy birthday to Freddie.  (FYI, I remember birthdays without the help of social media.  Just saying!)

Major announcement for the Friendship family – due to the potential impact of Hurricane Zeta, the church office will be closed on Wednesday, 10/28.  Also, there will be no services, classes or activities tomorrow (Wednesday), 10/28, on our campus.  It appears there is a good possibility that Zeta will make landfall near us on Wednesday evening/night.  We are presently under a hurricane warning even though Zeta’s top winds are only seventy miles per hour.  My preference it to never cancel a service but 2020 has been like the strangest year ever – at least in my life.  So, I am asking our thirteen readers to pass the word about this cancellation.

Miss Annie Gazzier passed from this life early yesterday evening.  Her husband remains hospitalized.  Pray for this family during this most difficult time.

Sharon Jardee’s surgery is today.  Pray for all to go well.

Max Peacock had a procedure done and they are in hopes it will prove beneficial.  Keep praying for Max.  Update – Max is now at home.  That is good news!

Our good friend in Montgomery, Alabama, Decker Terry, recently had surgery.  He did well but is still in need of our prayers.

There are other prayer requests that I choose to not make public for various reasons.  Just pray as God knows.

Where have I been?  Basically in a whirlwind!  Lisa and I drove to Michigan in order for me to preach at the Vriesland Reformed Church on Sunday morning and then to host the annual GRACE Ministries pig roast on Sunday evening.  I was very honored to be given the opportunity to preach at Vriesland as I have many, many friends in that church including Tom & Shari Compagner.  We arrived at Tom & Shari’s house on Saturday afternoon making sure to get there in time to watch the Bama game on television.  Sunday was a full day and we arrived back in Grand Bay yesterday afternoon.  Yes, we drove straight through to Michigan and straight through on the way home.  When you are young, you can do things like that.  When you are old, it is basically pretty stupid to do things like that.  Just saying!

As expected, the attendance for the pig roast was down due to the virus but the spirit was excellent.  GRACE Ministries has enjoyed tremendous support from so many Michiganders over the past twenty or so years.  We are blessed.

Speaking of GRACE Ministries, the taxes on the container were announced yesterday afternoon and they were very fair.  Thanks to Pastor Mike Parker and his staff for all of their help in this area.  Prayers have been answered thus far.  We now need you to pray that the container will be released in a very timely fashion – like within a week.

Donna Westhouse baked an apple pie and gave it to Tom & Shari Compagner on Sunday at the pig roast.  Oh my goodness!  Best apple pie I have ever eaten!  I actually ate two pieces and that is so not me.  She needs to be selling those things online!  Thank you Donna!

To our Michigan friends, we have openings on our December 1 – 8, 2020 mission trip to Guatemala.  The online airfare is good right now and the flight schedules are also pretty good.  Ditto for our Alabama friends.  Fares can change quickly.  So, if you have a valid passport and want to join us then contact me like yesterday!  Think long probably means think wrong!  This trip will be one where we celebrate Christmas with our students and their families.  Always a very special trip!

Remember, our church office will be closed tomorrow and no services tomorrow morning or evening.  Pray that Zeta will weaken before making landfall.  Thanks to Kendall Falana for providing me with updates that are almost always spot on.

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

Sharon Jardee has been in the hospital for over a week.  She was taken off of her medicine to keep her from getting a staph infection.  She now has a serious staph infection.  Surgery is scheduled for Monday, 10/27.

Max Peacock has been in the hospital all of this week.  He is not doing well and Marjorie has asked for the church to pray fervently for Max.

The container we shipped to Guatemala has now had all of the necessary paperwork completed.  It is now a waiting game for SAT (think IRS) to specify the amount of taxes owed.  SAT has been backlogged due to the virus.  Pray for a fair tax ruling a quick release, please.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Miss Vinnie Brewer’s son, Buddy, is battling a reoccurring malignancy.  Please pray for Buddy.  Miss Vinnie is a faithful prayer warrior for so many others so lets pray for her son and his family during this time.

Are you praying for Larry Crawley?  I sure hope so.  Nothing has changed with him but we need to keep him near the top of our daily prayer list.

My friend, Tracy Prater, continues to decline physically.  Pray for the medical folks to be able to manage the pain.  Pray for Tracy’s family.

Jeff Anderson passed from this life last Sunday, 10/11.  There will be a visitation with the family this Monday, 10/19, from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  The visitation and service will take place in our church auditorium.  The burial will take place in Pascagoula.  Pray for Jeff’s family.

Lisa and I are leaving early this morning to travel to Hartselle in order to attend the visitation and service for Evangelist Michael Mason’s father.  We have plans to return home tonight.  Pray for Dr. Michael and his family.

Basketball sign up is underway.  Eddie Albritton & Amy Reynolds are coordinating these leagues.  Contact them to sign up or with any questions.

Soccer is going full steam ahead.  It seems all is well there.

We ARE putting together a team to travel to Guatemala the dates of December 1 – 8, 2020.  If you have a current passport in hand and want to join us go celebrate Christmas with our Colegio JET students and their families then contact me like yesterday.  Fares are fair right now but could change at any moment.  Do not delay!  Pass the word, please.  (Trip is open to anyone age fifteen and above)  Folks, the needs in Guatemala are greater now than they have ever been during our twenty one years of ministering there.  Just saying!

Answered prayer?  TJ Vice finally put his foot down and told his wife, Lindsey, that the AWANA banquet will take place in the CAB and not outside as originally announced.  That is what I am talking about!

Has any husband within the Friendship family bought his wife flowers this week?  Has Soy bought Deidra flowers this week?  Asking for a friend!

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

I would ask that you continue to pray for my friend, Tracy Prater, in Priceville, Alabama.  She is battling this malignancy really hard but it is really raging in her body.  Pray for her daughter, her father, her sister and the other family members.  Pray for the hospice care nurses.

Evangelist Michael Mason’s father passed from this life yesterday.  He is now in Heaven.  Dr. Michael and his family will be making the arrangements today.  Pray for this family as they walk through this valley.

Keep praying for Larry Crawley.  Larry has such a positive attitude and such a strong trust in God.

The container our folks loaded on 9/26 arrived in a port in Guatemala this past Tuesday, 10/13.  Please pray for two things now – that the customs officials will be fair in assessing the taxes owed and that the container will be released in an expedited time frame.  I am very thankful to Pastor Mike Parker for his expert help in handling this container.

We had good services yesterday but our numbers were down in the auditorium morning and evening.  I assume folks knew that I was back in the pulpit and simply stayed away?

Remember, “hey, boss, the plane, the plane, the plane?”  (All of the old folks are nodding their head)  Well, I say, “hey Lindsey Vice, the CAB, the CAB, the CAB!”  Some things do not require prayer – just common sense!  Forecast calls for a high of eighty three degrees on Sunday with the humidity at eight eight percent.  TJ, time to man up!  LOL!

It is going to be really different (you think?) without Coach Saban on the sideline for the Bama game this Saturday.  Word has it that Coach Collier may be replacing him for this game?  I am trying to verify that and will let you know.

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

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

I have been “silent” as far as the blog is concerned for eight consecutive days.  You may be thinking, “what can be so difficult about writing a blog entry?”  Well, you want to take it and run with it?  Just let me know.

Actually, I have just been mimicking our daughter, Deidra, and her blogging skills.  She blogs once a month whether she needs to or not!  She has a wealth of subjects to choose from i.e. one hundred and forty three students, a dozen teachers, workers everywhere, et cetera and yet she remains silent.  Oh well!

The major question that came from my messages this past Sunday was “has Soy bought Deidra any flowers this week?”  Are you serious?  Soy does not have a clue!  From what I am hearing there are guys around here who are basically clueless too!  Yes, I am talking about you!

We welcome Dylan Westbrook to our staff as our Bus Director/Children’s Pastor.  This is a part time position.  Dylan has been doing a great job as interim.  I am very blessed to have him on our staff.  The best thing about Dylan is his sweet wife, Elizabeth!  Their children are awesome too!

Regular schedule this morning and evening.

I am hearing that a couple of you are having problems with the live stream.  Let me suggest that you go right now and send an e-mail to Deidra (dtaylor0811@gmail.com) or Soy (soytaylor0818@gmail.com).  In your e-mail put your phone number and one of them will contact you and help solve any issues you are having.

The AWANA banquet takes place this Sunday night and I can only hope those in charge will have enough sense to move it inside the CAB – hello!  Can you say air conditioning?  Can you say better sound system?  Can you say better video monitors?  Can you say lights?  Let me guess – women are in charge of this thing!  (I am so LOL!)  Actually, I am just saying what guys like TJ Vice are thinking but will not say!  I have not been told any different so I plan to preach at 6:00PM “inside” the auditorium with the air conditioners turned wide open.  Remember, “we are family!”  Bayou La Batre Reeboks to be had?  Just saying!

After this past Sunday night’s service, one of the families within the Friendship family contacted Lisa and made one of the most generous offers I have ever known about.  Talk about being kind and willing to sacrifice – wow!  I stand amazed!  (No one has ever offered to give us an all expenses paid trip to the Holy Land!  They still have not but I just thought I would throw that out there!  LOL!). I am very serious when I say this family blessed me way beyond measure.  Who are they?  What did they offer?  Yes!

I reconnected with Heather Breedlove this past Monday night as I was leaving Tracy Prater’s house.  You talk about a breath of fresh air and a Holy Spirit encounter.  The girl blessed me!  What a sweet spirit.  Heather is the daughter of Pastor Jack & Miss Peggy Freeman.  They both have gone to be with the Lord now.  Bro. Jack was my pastor from the time I was like seven years old until I was eleven years old.  He helped lead my dad to Jesus.  He was a great pastor and preacher.  Bro. Jack was the second pastor I had to come preach at Friendship after I became the pastor.  Why do I think so highly of Bro. Jack?  Well, Bro. Johnny Tucker followed him at Shady Grove.  Need I say more?

Speaking of Tracy, she definitely needs our fervent prayer support.  She is a very, very strong young lady.  Can I just say that I hate cancer!  Some of the absolute best folks in my life have been taken from us by this dreaded disease!  Pray!

Soccer is going full steam ahead.  Basketball sign ups are taking place now.  Eddie Albritton and Amy Reynolds are the point persons for basketball so contact either of them for more details.

Trying to put together a team to go celebrate Christmas with the students of Colegio JET.  Looking at the dates of December 1 – 8. Interested? Contact me immediately if not sooner!  Pass the word.

This entry has been too long!  My apologies.  I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus!