Here’s a bit of an update, gang. I can tell I’m tired and a little road weary. All that previous blog about my upcoming engagements is not accurate. The diet pat, the prep pat…that’s all correct. The engagements themselves, however, begin the following week, Dec 3rd.

I’m going to bed now!
John

It began on November 15th.  The road trip, that is.  It has ended now with a safe arrival home and we are beat!  ha ha   What’s new, right?  As I mentioned in my last couple of blogs, we spent Thanksgiving in Yazoo City.  Patty’s dad is doing well enough to have enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner with my side of the family.  He’s really a bit unaccustomed to the chaos that eventually breaks out when my family and extended families get together but he seemed to have a good time.  We are so thankful for this and appreciate your prayers as always.

We stopped by on Friday evening and spent the night with some friends and had a wonderful visit.  We left them around 1 p.m. today and arrived home at 6:30.

Now that we are back, we will proceed with getting a check on our diet (actually our lifestyle now) that went just a little by the wayside over the holiday and program preparation for the presentations I have next week.  I will have one on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  Sure would be easier if I could put one program together and do it those 5 times but each event is different with different emphasis’ as well as a couple of them sharing the same attendees.

Blessings my friends,
John

Oh my, I have to fit Christmas decorations in this schedule somewhere!

Patty’s dad had a good appointment today. The dr said he was doing really well compared to where he was last month while in the hospital. The dr said it was all on him to behave and pay close attention to the amount of fluid he drinks. If he will do that he will do just fine. Still up a few pounds. Looks like a new normal.

He and i took a drive out to the country to see the sights and wet a hook for just a little bit this afternoon.

Visiting with mom and my sister in law tonight then will head back to Mr Shurleys house where Patty and I are staying.

Blessings,
John

It was a good weekend revival at Immanuel Baptist Church in Paragould, AR. Attendance was pretty good although the pastor had hoped for more. Quite frankly, I’ve never known a pastor that didn’t desire a bigger turnout.

We saw 2 professions of faith and are so thankful to see God work. We left Paragould this morning and arrived this afternoon in Yazoo. Patty’s dad is up another pound. Oh boy, here we go. Patty will take him to a doctors appointment in Jackson tomorrow and it’s perfect timing. It’s a kidney dr appointment that’s been on the schedule since his hospital stay back a few weeks ago.

Mom is busy preparing for the family onslaught that Thanksgiving brings but is looking forward to everyone being here. This will be our first big gathering since dads funeral. I think, for the most part, everyone will be fine but mom may have some time so thanks for the prayers for us and on Mr. Shurley’s behalf.

Grateful in all things,
Happy Thanksgiving!
John

This morning we will leave Yazoo City and drive to Paragould, AR, where revival services will begin tonight. Tonight and tomorrow will be a kid/family focus then Sunday more church-wide. Obviously there is not a lot of difference in the two emphasis with the exception of music and “depth” of the message.

We will be driving back to Yazoo City on Monday where we will stay through Thanksgiving. Mom seems to be doing well and looking forward to everyone coming in Thursday. Patty’s dad is still struggling a bit with fluid gain. This is causing increased frustration with everyone so we would appreciate your prayers on his behalf. Other than that irritant, he is doing well.

Thanks for checking in. I will try and keep you posted on my time with Immanuel Baptist Church but am unaware of my wifi access.

Blessings,
John

Hi friends,

I know it’s been a few days since my last blog and I appreciate your faithfulness in checking in.  I can only imagine the occasional feelings of; “Really?  He can’t take a minute and tell me how to pray for them, or at least give me something?”

Ha ha ha, don’t worry…I am not conceited enough to think that you can’t function without a word from me but I do value your thoughts and prayers.  Here’s what’s going on.  Patty’s dad had his last weekly chemo treatment this past Friday.  The oncologist is very pleased with his progress and wants to go to a maintenance plan now of one injection every 2 weeks.  We are hopeful that we will see a difference in his weight battles as a result of  the new plan.  He’s been a virtual “yo-yo” with mostly going up.  Every now and then he will show a pound or two loss but that’s rare.  We’ve got a limit in our minds that, if reached, we will go to another step.  We certainly don’t want to experience the high weight gain and difficulties that accompanied it anytime soon.  He didn’t feel quite as good today but seems a bit better tonight.

We plan on spending a little time with friends tomorrow before getting focused on the upcoming road trip.  We will load up on Wednesday and pull out Thursday for a revival meeting in Paragould, AR.  We plan on stopping by Yazoo City to get an eye to eye meeting with the folks, spending the night then heading on up to AR on Friday.

I’ll try and be in touch to keep you up on things.  Friday and Saturday night of the revival will be targeting kids and families then Sunday more along of church wide.

Blessings,
John

We arrived home from our vacation on Saturday evening. I played in the orchestra Sunday morning then began making plans for the week ahead.

Patty’s dad has been steadily gaining weight since his chemo treatment this past Friday. As of this morning, several calls had been made to various healthcare workers and doctors and he began seeing a small amount of improvement by dropping a couple of pounds of fluid. We are so thankful for this and would appreciate your prayers on his behalf as we continue making preparations.

You see, it’s been our experience, through the nearly 27 years of this ministry, that when we have what appears to be several weeks vacant or open there seems to always be a purpose in it. The death of a grandmother, a surgery Patty had to have a number of years ago, the illness and eventual death of Patty’s mom, or my knee surgery and eventual death of my dad. In each instance, God gave us some time to be where we needed to be. It’s been this way for years.

We don’t know what the future holds but, praise the Lord, He does!

The ministry involves spending time putting together new messages, learning some new music, and scribbling down some new skit ideas for my “friends”. There are some uncertainties looming about but He is in control!

Just keeping in touch,
John

The service today at Stowers Hill was really good. The music really focused on the name above all names and was a blessing. The message, based in Acts 5, asked one simple question. Everyone casts a shadow. How is yours received?

We will do the opening program at the fall festival at 5 p.m. then following all the activities, we will load and drive home.

My voice is somewhat weak but God is giving me what I need to get through. Thank you, in advance, for voicing a prayer in this area.

Blessings,
John

It was a good night and lots of fun. It was a special night at the Beallwood Baptist Church. In fact it’s a big weekend for them. A ladies conference and kids event tonight, a men’s wild game supper tomorrow night and special services on Sunday! So, it’s quite busy. I was brought in for tonight’s kids event only. We began at 6:15 and ran until 6:45. Pizza followed then at 7:10 I took over and went until 8:15. I’m beat but as I said, things went well and the kids seemed to have a good time.

Patty’s dad got a good report from his cardiologist followup. He also received another chemo treatment. We praise the Lord for it all and thank you for your prayers.

We will be spending the night here in Columbus, GA, then we will drive to Attalla, AL, and set up at Stowers Hill Baptist for Sunday services.

Pressing on!
John

We had a good 3 days with the Hillcrest kids. They were fun and respectful although we had some “1st timers” tonight that stretched us a bit. God never allowed us to get as far as an invitation because of the ages we had before us but it was a good 3 nights.

Patty drove home today. Her dads weit has returned to normal and things have settled in a somewhat so she took that opportunity to head this way. It was either that or somebody in that house was going to die! Funny, but she and her dad had pretty much had enough of each others pleasurable company. It happens you know. It’s all good and we rejoice in his health.

We will take tomorrow to rest a little then load up for a weekend trip, first to Columbus, GA, then on to Attalla, AL.

Thanks for the prayers as we continue the work!
John