Pastor's Blog

Good Monday morning from GRACE Mountain.

Bro. Jerry sent me a message sharing that the attendance in our two morning services yesterday was down.  That disappoints me but I am very grateful to those folks from the Friendship family who were faithful to attend.

Bro. Jerry also shared that there were four professions of faith in our VBS evangelistic service last night – praise the Lord!

Things in Guatemala are fine.  Lots of ministry taking place.  Team members have great attitudes.  All is well.

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

Good morning from GRACE Mountain.  Eight folks arrived in two shifts yesterday as the three from Jackson, MS were on time while the five from Alabama faced multiple flight delays in getting here.  These eight join eight others who were already here and we are set for a good day of ministry.  Pray for these folks as they minister over this next week.

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

Good Wednesday morning from GRACE Mountain.  All is well here.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, had two more stents placed in his heart.  Keep praying!

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

You just never know what a day will hold!  You know that “the best laid plans of mice and people” thing!  As soon as I posted yesterday’s blog entry, Delta sent me (and all of the others waiting in Gulfport) a note saying our flight had been delayed from a 6:00AM departure to an 11:00AM departure.  My connecting flight would be leaving at 9:00AM (Alabama time) and Delta only flies once daily to Guatemala.  “Houston, we have a problem!”  (Keep that thought in mind)

The lady at Delta could not have been any nicer in trying to help me get to Guatemala yesterday.  However, her best offer was to fly me from Gulfport to Atlanta to Salt Lake City to Los Angeles and then to Guatemala City.  Fly all day and then all night arriving in Guatemala at 5:00AM on Tuesday, 7/13.  I declined the offer!

Contacted United Airlines and got a 5:00PM departure from New Orleans which would arrive in GUA at 9:30PM.  Ok, we can make that work.  Left Gulfport heading home and decided to check once more on flying out of Mobile.  What?  A flight from Mobile on United also leaving at 5:00PM which would also connect in Houston and arrive in GUA at 9:30PM.  Perfect!  Life is good!

Got home and immediately began repacking luggage because I had lost a suitcase since I have status with Delta but not with United.  I had gone to bed around 11:00PM Sunday night and was awake at 12:15AM so I decided to lay across the bed for an hour or so.  Houston, we have a problem!  The flight out of Mobile was going to be delayed for two and one half hours which meant I would miss my connection.  Got on the phone with United, was put on hold and waited forty five minutes before deciding to head to Pensacola and catch a United flight which would connect in Houston and get me to GUA at 9:30PM.  I had to repack again because now I am down to one suitcase with twenty less pounds.

Got to PNS, checked in and life is good!  Wait, the flight from PNS has now been delayed due to a ground stoppage in Houston.  Not going to make my connection in Houston.  There was one other United flight that was scheduled earlier but it too had been delayed.  I figured it might go out earlier than my original PNS flight so the gate agent was kind enough to put me on stand by for that flight.  I was correct as that flight left the gate earlier than the other flight.  The gate agent put me on the very last row but I was grateful to be on the plane even if I did have to get up every time someone needed to use the toilet!  We arrived in Houston late but the flight to GUA was also delayed so I made the connection.  Arrived at 11:45PM Guatemala time.  Was on the mountain like an hour later.  I was tired as I did not sleep on either of the flights.

Went to open the door to the apartment building and it was locked.  Are you serious?  Knocked on Soy & Deidra’s bedroom window, called their names, called Deidra’s phone, hollered Eddie Albritton’s name – crickets and snoring.  Decided that I would just sleep in a vehicle but the doors were locked.  Could not sleep on the grass as it was raining.

Finally I simply hollered “supper is ready” and I heard Soy bounce out of bed!

It was not a good day of traveling but it could have been much worse.  I am blessed.  God is faithful!  It was a great forty first wedding anniversary!

I hope all is well back at the house.  Praying for you guys.  I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.  I am going to bed!

Good morning from the Gulfport airport.  I am checked in and waiting for a flight to ATL and then a connection to Guatemala City.  Prayers for safe travel are appreciated.

As far as I know, Miss Vinnie’s son remains in the hospital.  Keep praying!

We had a good day in our services yesterday.  Folks, the Spirit has been excellent as we gather to worship.  I do not take that lightly.  We give God the glory!

Bro. Jerry, Bro. Abel, Bro. Dylan and our deacons all stand ready, willing and able to minister in my absence.  Do not hesitate to call on them.

Forty one years ago today marked the second most important day in my life as Lisa and I exchanged our wedding vows.  I definitely was the winner on that day and have won every day since then because of her.  Lisa is a sweetheart, a great wife, a great mother and a super grandmother.  I am blessed to have her in my life.

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

Just received a call from Bobby Stork sharing that Miss Vinnie’s son, Buddy, got home from UAB last night.  He then got sick and was taken to a local hospital with heart issues.  Pray for Buddy, the medical folks, Miss Vinnie and the family.

Regular schedule on our campus tomorrow morning and evening.

VBS from 5:00 – 7:00PM tomorrow.

I pray you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.

Roseanne Baria’s sister-in-law, Louise Pelletier, passed from this life on July 6.  There will be a visitation with the family today, 7/9, from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  The visitation and service will take place at Serenity Funeral Home in Theodore.  Pray for the Pelletier family.

Miss Vinnie’s son is scheduled to return home from UAB today.  Keep praying!

Regular schedule on our campus this Sunday morning and evening.  Lord willing, I will be in the pulpit for all three services.  I am praying for the Friendship family to be faithful to attend.

This Sunday evening, 7/11, will see us host our fourth night of VBS.  Times are from 5:00PM until 7:00PM.  Pass the word.

Deidra, Lizzi, Sydney & Audrey arrived safely to GRACE Mountain yesterday afternoon.  Smooth flights and they were through the Guatemala airport in less than twenty five minutes.  Thank you to each person who prayed and to those who sent notes of support and encouragement.

Life on the hill went back to somewhat normal yesterday with Deidra and the girls gone.  Lisa spent the night at Presley’s while Gina & I held the fort down.  A bit strange feeling right now.

I am not a huge fan of eating oysters.  (But I am a huge fan of Jason & Dana Taylor!)  Lisa loves oysters raw or cooked.  Once she left yesterday I found an oyster container in the refrigerator.  Apparently Lisa brought them home from her office.  I decided to do a little Spring cleaning.  I will just play dumb when she asks what happened?

The other day I went to go outside through the door leading to our garage.  Could not do it!  Why?  There was this huge watermelon blocking the exit.  It was so large that I could not move it.  Had to go out another door, get a chainsaw and cut it up!  I then began eating it.  It was delicious!  Where did it come from?  John Milton Ladnier.  The man can grow a garden!

I was crushed yesterday to learn that Pastor Jordan Lollar is no longer a reader of the blog.  Our number of readers has now slipped to eleven.  Folks, if we drop to single digits then I am done!  Just saying!

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

Short and sweet entry today.

Regular schedule on our campus this morning and evening.

I will spend the better part of today packing for Deidra and the girls to return home.  Deidra has accumulated a ton of ministry supplies for use in Guatemala.  No way it all goes this time but it is all needed.  Can you say “Christmas gifts?”

Speaking of Guatemala, our December trip is at capacity plus.  Somehow I am not communicating that message very well as I am getting asked daily if we have any openings on the December.  The answer is no.  I am sorry but I tried to tell folks in advance this was going to be the case.

It looks as though we will get more rain this morning.  Folks, God knows what He is doing with the weather.  Trust Him!

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

The church office will open this morning at 8:00AM.  Normal office hours today:  8:00AM until 12:00PM and 1:00PM until 4:00PM.

I hope everyone enjoyed a nice holiday weekend.  For me it was family time, grass cutting and some work on the computer.  Having yesterday off kept me confused as to what day it was but it is all good.

As I posted a couple of days ago, the December 2021 GRACE Ministries trip is at capacity plus.  It has been announced as a first come, first served trip for the past couple of weeks.  We have folks from five different States who have purchased tickets.  The next opportunity to be on a trip led by me will our June 2022 trip.  I would suggest not waiting!  Contact me via email at pastor@friendshipfamily.net.

Perry McIntyre is the brother in Christ whose life was cut short way too young last week.  The celebration of life for Perry takes place this afternoon in South Carolina.  Pray for his wife, Rhonda, and the rest of the family.

I am driving to Hattiesburg, MS this morning to meet with a fellow pastor.  The roads are wet so pray for safe travels for me.

I have been thinking – when a married couple buys a mini van then it gives the thought they are preparing to either begin their family or expand their family.  Would you agree?  A couple in the Friendship family just recently purchased a mini van.  Just saying!

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

Today marks the fifty third birthday of Lisa’s only brother, Michael Clark.  Michael was born on 7/5/68 and passed from this life on 9/2/86.  The flowers in the auditorium yesterday were placed there by Charles & Ann in loving memory of Michael.  Death stings!  Because Jesus lives we can face today, tomorrow and beyond!

Our fourth of July worship celebration was certainly blessed by the Lord!  Al Stokes and the praise team from the Grand Bay Church of God graciously came and joined the Friendship family’s praise team which made the musical worship outstanding.  I cannot adequately express my appreciation to these folks for their ministry to us.  Great job!

Pastor Spencer Bell did a very nice job of sharing the spoken Word to us.  I have received positive comments from so many folks about the message.

What can I say about the attendance?  A really nice crowd was present.  Awesome!  Thank you Friendship family for being faithful!

Of course, God deserves and receives all of the glory for all that was done yesterday.  Thank you Jesus!

The church office is closed today.  It will open tomorrow morning at 8:00AM.

Our December GRACE Ministries mission trip to Guatemala has reached capacity.  I strongly encourage folks to begin looking at our June 2022 trip.  I fully believe it will reach capacity in short order.

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