It was a little difficult to concentrate as expected but things went well wnd the church was excited as they had more people in Sunday School than anyone could remember in recent memory.

We had no movement at the invitation but the people are both responsive and gracious following each service.

Storms are moving in tonight as I hang with mom and I hope to get some rest. Ill begin tomorrow making appointments to help mom begin tying loose ends.

I would appreciate the prayers as I do the different tasks.

Blessings,
John

Got up this morning and headed out to Cruger Baptist to set up for revival services. We will begin tomorrow morning and, Lord willing, will go through Wednesday night.

Mom is doing pretty well. My youngest brother and his wife will be heading back to San Antonio tomorrow. Mom told me she wanted to stay by herself tomorrow night. I had planned to stay with her and she said no.
So…I’m only a phone call away. We plan to run errands each day. Necessary things like Social Security and Monument, etc., will fill each day. We will be here in Yazoo through Friday then drive to Covington, TN, for revival services beginning Sunday.
We appreciate your prayers in these upcoming services that I may be able to focus on the task at hand.

Blessings,
John

While traveling home on Monday from our time in Earle, AR, we received the call that dad had gone home to be with the Lord. We had traveled south of Tupelo, about 40 miles, and turned toward the west to head to Yazoo City.

The service was yesterday and was a wonderful celebration. One in which a life long dedicated servant of the Lord, deserves. Mom is doing pretty well and we are handling things following up on his death. (paperwork and such)

I am still planning on fulfilling my obligations with Cruger Baptist Church this Sunday through Wed all the while spending the day with mom and commuting to the meeting. We appreciate your prayers as we continue the work.

You can pray for Patty. She is driving to Enterprise right now to get some necessary things done before coming back tomorrow. A quick trip for sure. Thanks for prayers of safety.

Blessings,
John

Today went really well as we handled the necessary business. Mom, my brother Jim, Patty and I headed down to the funeral home to do the things you have to do.
We had the option to go ahead and view dad. We felt it was best but left it to mom to make the final decision. Not wanting to see dad right before the 1:00 visitation tomorrow, mom decided to go ahead. The funeral home did a wonderful job and mom did fine.
Tomorrow we will head to the church for a 10:45 sound check and lunch at 11:30, followed by visitation at 1:00.

Lots of people calling, coming by, or messaging on Facebook and e-mail and we are so blessed with everyone.

Blessings,
John

Today’s morning service went well. There was a nice crowd (although the pastor said there were quite a few “regulars” that were out) and the Word was proclaimed. We will close out this series of meetings tonight at 6:00 p.m.

I pray that something I’ve said or sung has planted a seed that will grow to the glory of the Lord. The distraction of dad’s health has been difficult at best. He is in the hospital indefinitely for now. He continues thrashing about, banging his arms on the padded railing of the bed, even though he was given 3 doses of a med that the night before knocked him into never never land with a single dose.
The dr is suggesting hospice because in his current state no nursing home will take him. They simply cannot provide that level of care. Mom is not ready for hospice yet but suffice it to say, things are very tough. The dr will be calling dad’s neurologist tomorrow to see how much of this action is from the stroke and how much is from his condition, hydrocephalus. He believes that the hydro was just moving along at a slow and steady pace until the stroke. And the stroke itself put his hydro into “hyper drive”. He’ll know more when he speaks to the neuro.
Until then, he is doing what he can to administer a different drug to calm him. Pray for mom. She is spending her nights up there except occasionally.
We will head out tomorrow. Thinking Yazoo right now but not sure.

Blessings,
John

Tonight’s message was from Acts 27 and how Paul, amid all the turmoil of a ship on its way to sinking in the storm, was making sure everyone on the ship had food as he gave thanks. Giving thanks in all things.
There is no change in dad’s condition and the doctor said they really won’t know until sometime next week. He still talks gibberish, thinking he is communicating just fine, and he can not yet swallow.
Here’s what’s happened, thus far, that we are grateful for. Mom has been hesitant to get a sitter for dad to give her at least a little break. Realizing where things are right now she has gotten the information to contact the scheduling lady. This morning she was sitting with dad when the lady showed up at the hospital room (the lady works there as well but mom had not contacted her yet). She asked mom if she had had breakfast and encouraged her to go for a bit. Mom said she could not have been gone that long because she brought her biscuit back with her. She said when she arrived back in the room, dad had been washed, powdered, and was no longer restless but was sleeping soundly.
This gave mom a real sense of relief and she immediately scheduled someone to come in this evening at 7 p.m. and say until 7 a.m. She is going home and get some rest having gone the last 2 days with no sleep.
We praise the Lord for this opportunity and how God moved to get her to make a difficult decision and not have the feeling of abandoning him.
The services are going fine although we are not seeing any movement, I do believe that God is moving within hearts.

Thank you for your continued remembrance.
John

A difficult night…….
I received a call this morning from mom informing me that dad had had an apparent stroke. Naturally, I didn’t know exactly what to do but mom said she had called my brother who was on his way to Yazoo and she would call with any info.
He is restless in the hospital and wants to go home but is being analyzed. He is immobile, unable to swallow and talks gibberish.
Consequently, I was a bit distracted tonight but things went pretty well despite it all.
We appreciate your prayers on all sides as the work continues. I’ll be here, unless the Lord directs otherwise, through Sunday night.

Blessings,
John

Well, the school today at 2:30 was a “trip” indeed. Man, who ordered 79 degree heat on February 29?? That along with a gym filled with 1st through 6th graders and no air conditioning (the large fans were not even functional) made for a pretty difficult situation in which to hold their attention. It went fine and the kids seemed to enjoy themselves.
Tonight we had a pretty good crowd to start our meeting. Although there was no response, there were a number of visitors and the pastor was pleased with that.
Tomorrow we’ll have another service at 7:00 and would appreciate your prayers for the music portion of the service especially. Really difficult circumstances seem to have the potential to hinder the movement of the Spirit.

Blessings,
John

The UPWARD program went well last night. It was well attended and was held in the local high school gym. The only problem I experienced was that instead of being set up at center court, I was set up with my back next to those stands and facing center court, the kids on the floor in front of me. All that would be fine, except the parents and families were all the way across in the opposite stands. Made for a challenging communication process. All in all it was good, though. The guys in charge were great to work with and did everything they could to make the night successful. Their program’s success reflected that dedication as well from what I heard.
We spent the night there then headed out this morning and drove to Earle, AR. This is my 3rd year in this church where I will be leading revival services beginning tomorrow night. I will be doing both the music and singing.
Please pray for the pianist. She has been here a very long time and seems unwilling to help me much with any “new” choruses and such. So, having left a note for me today saying she simply would not play some of the song choices, I am now revamping every service. Yes, all those I exhausted myself on this past week.
So, I am going to redo but by using my chorus selections from my track library. It will turn out for God’s Will will not be thwarted!
Tomorrow we have an elementary school program at 2:30, then after the program we will break down and drive back to the hotel for a couple of hours before going to the church for the 7 p.m service. Yes, strange meeting in that we will be going Wednesday through Sunday instead of visa versa.
Thanks, for the prayers,
John

Loading up and getting all things together to head to MS. Following our brief time there we will drive up to AR to begin revival services on Wednesday night. We also have been given the opportunity to be in the local elementary school. I have been informed that I may do my Bible skits there. That’s a great deal more freedom than I have normally. Poverty in this area is considerable and we are praying that this time with those kids will make them want to come and bring parents to the services. I will be doing both the worship leading and preaching.
We pray that all who hear the Word will be responsive.

Blessings,
John