Happy Father's Day 2016

Hello Friends,

It is Odie writing today from City Reach Tulsa. This week of City Reach has been marvelous. Every night the excitement keeps building. Thank God that people from the community are coming each night and praying in the altar. We still have two more services, tonight and tomorrow. I am anticipating great things for those services.

Dad wrote a great post yesterday. He even had me laughing out loud when he was picking on me near the end. It really was funny when it happened and even funnier looking back on it three years later. 

Dad also mentioned Father's day in that post. He wrote about my awesome Grandfathers and honored them both. I am so thankful and so blessed to have had them in my life from day one. I anticipate having them for many more years to come.

I love my Papaw Eugene and Papaw Danny so much. I make sure that all of the other fabulous grandchildren on both sides of the family know that I was the only grandchild for many, many years. That means my grandfathers may not love me more than the others but they have loved me a lot longer!

Today I want to talk about my wonderful Papa. I am a blessed girl in the Daddy department. Dad works so hard! Many of the years we were living at home, Dad worked two jobs or worked a job and side work. We have been back in full time ministry for 17 years and I think he works more now than he ever did.

He is always doing something for our family, the ministry and for others. He loves people and he loves God. His vision of City Reach has added to his work load but when I see him under the tent reaching for and embracing the people in our cities that are lost and hurting, I know he is the happiest he has ever been.

My Dad is a man of many hats, so many that I can not name them all. He does it all without much recognition so maybe you will not mind if I recognize him here this morning.

Daddy I love you so much! Thank you for being an amazing, Godly Father! I am proud of you and proud to be your number one daughter! 

Happy Fathers Day!!

I hope you have a fabulous Father's Day weekend. Here are some pics of my Papa, just in case you have forgotten what he looks like. 

Odie

Dad and I on Thanksgiving 2015. One of my favorite pics from last year. 

A 2016 favorite taken in January

Dad working on the bus, literally, in December 2015

These are a couple of pictures I snapped this week. Dad was doing what he does best, reaching for the lost under and around the Gospel Tent. 

Odie's Bristow Pictures From Thursday

Hey friend, this is Odie reporting in once again from Oklahoma. Today is setup day for City Reach Tulsa. We are excited for what is in store for Tulsa. It is our privilege to work with a wonderful group of Pastors and Churches in this area. Please check out Dad's Thursday post for more information on our location this week. We would love to have you join us under the Gospel Tent in Tulsa. 

This week it was wonderful to attend all four nights of the Bristow Campmeeting. God really encouraged my heart through the wonderful preaching we heard. 

Monday is traditionally youth night at Bristow and we heard "Overcoming The Cold Front"  from Pastor Jon Isaacs. 

Tuesday night Pastor Jerry Pascarella preached to us about "The Book That Brings the Blessing."

Wednesday Pastor Kevin Lloyd preached to all the hurting folks "There Is A Grudge In Gilead."

And finally Thursday night Pastor Shad McDonald told us about "When God Gets Fed Up."

God spoke to us every night! Each of the Holy Ghost anointed preachers encouraged the saints, reached for the backsliders and those struggling to hold on. It was wonderful!

I am so glad we were able to be in Oklahoma for Bristow 2016. It was exactly what I needed. As always it was great to see many of our friends from all over the country. Dad posted lots of pictures from the week yesterday. Today I will close with my pictures from Thursday night. I appreciate Joy Martin for helping get so many pictures this week! She can get around to everyone easier and faster than I can.  Joy, you were awesome!

Odie 

Holiness Heroes: Bro. David and Sis. Ruth Brimm

Hello! It is Odie checking in from Oklahoma. This has been one of those weeks that did not go according to "our" plan but we still had a good week. Who knows what next week will hold? I am looking forward to seeing some friends at Bristow campmeeting this week. 

The month of June arrived this week. The first five months of 2016 have gone by incredibly fast! Every year when June rolls around I start to reflect on many great memories I have of going to youth camp at Shady Springs Youth Camp near Bedford, Indiana.  

My parents went to Shady as counselors several years when I was little. I was aloud to tag along for all or part of the week. I have lots of memories from Shady. I could not wait until I could be a camper at 10 years old.  

Many of my life long friendships started at Shady Springs. As a girl I had no idea that I would look back 20 years later and cherish the beginnings of those friendships. 

My second year as a camper was 1997. I went that year to see friends, make new friends and get the Holy Ghost. I did not plan to come home with head lice! That is a bad camp memory that haunts me even today. But the good memories out weigh the bad. 1997 youth camp was a life changing week for me!

We believe that a person must first be saved by asking Jesus to forgive them of their sins and asking Him to be the Lord of our life. I was saved around 4 or 5 years old. 

John 3:16-17 

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I grew in my faith as I grew older. Looking back I see points where I started understanding things more. This is a process that continues today. Around the age of 8 I started asking God for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. 

In the bible in Acts chapter 2 we read of the day of Pentecost. 

Acts 2:1-4

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

We believe this is not only for the saints of the Bible but it is something for believers today to experience. The Holy Ghost is a special gift that is given by God to a saved and purified life.

I had heard about this gift. I had watched others receive the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in an unknown tongue. My family and friends had told me "it changes your life." I did not understand it all, but I knew the great services at youth camp created a good atmosphere to receive the Holy Ghost.

My prayers were answered on Wednesday night June 11th 1997.  It was an amazing service that I do not want to ever forget. 

The Holy Ghost is a gift that keeps blessing me. He is a comfort and helps me through life. Thank God for filling my life!

The day speaker at Shady Springs for my age group in 1997 was Bro. David and Sis. Ruth Brimm. They had, and still have, a special anointing to minister to young people. Their ministry in the word and music and friendship impacted my life. 

They were there to encourage and pray with me! I know it was their ministry that helped me get in the right place where I could receive the Holy Ghost exactly when I needed Him. 

Here is a picture of my dear friends ministering at PFYC 2014. 

We do not get to see the Brimm's often. I am always glad when our paths cross even for a short visit. Late last year we met up for a quick dinner on a cold afternoon. It was great catching up with my precious friends. 

Sis. Ruth is a gifted singer and songwriter and choir director. I learned a lot of things about singing alto in her choirs. I still sings her songs we learned in camp choirs over the years. 

Bro. David and Sis. Ruth Brimm are incredible people of God. They have encouraged me through changes and hard times in life. We have shared many happy times together. I am thankful that God brought them into my life. I am eternally grateful for the Godly examples they are to me. Bro. David and Sis. Ruth, I love you both so much! Thank you for living a Godly life. I appreciate you for being Holiness Heroes I can look up to. 

For the past several years they have pastored in Granite City, Illinois at Bethel Chapel. They have a wonderful church! If you are ever in the St Louis area I encourage to visit Bethel Chapel. The church is near the Illinois and Missouri border. 

They Brimms also have two wonderful children, Kayla and Nathan. They have been friends of mine for a long time! They are both working in ministry. It is great to see God working through them. Kayla is married to Josh Thomas and Nathan is married to Angela. Both couples have blessed the Brimm family with sweet grandchildren. 

Thank you for reading today. Have a fabulous weekend. Stay tuned for the unknown adventures ahead. 

Odie 

See You Later My Dear Friend Tammy Ferguson

Hello friends this is Odie reporting in from Texas. We have been a moving target this week. The BoggsMobile covered over 1,700 miles. Thank the Lord for helping us to make the long journey safely. You can read about it HERE.

The tent is going up today. Dad, Mom, Bro. Jimmie and others have been working hard to be prepared for this moment. We are excited for City Reach Ft. Worth. Please pray that we reach everyone possible here. Also pray that the weather is cooperative. 

Dad already told you I lost a a special friend a few days ago. By the grace of God I was blessed to have fellowship with her before she left us. Last weekend I was privileged to spend some precious time with my dear friend Tammy Ferguson. We drank Starbucks, shopped, ate, talked, laughed and went to two great City Reach services. 

Tammy and I loved to get together. We had a blast on our girls day in November of 2014. You can read about that day HERE. We wanted to plan another outing. We actually had a bucket list of outings planned for the years ahead. We would often text and talk on the phone of places we wanted to go and things we wanted to do. 

Several months ago we started talking about City Reach coming to California. Tammy told me that she would visit City Reach in California. She was excited about the whole City Reach project and prayed fervently for it. Tammy was excited to be a part of City Reach Atwater. 

Tammy actually left work early last Friday to have extra time to spend with me. She was an amazing friend! We headed to Starbucks and got some drinks. It was our mini belated  celebration for Tammy's 52nd birthday. It was great to talk face to face with her for a while before service that evening. 

After a wonderful Friday night service we had great fellowship with lots of friends. We  finalized our plans for Saturday morning. Then It was time to enjoy a fun filled day on Saturday. 

I had planned to write this description of our day together and post it this morning. Tammy was a faithful blog reader and would have loved to read all about it. She often left encouraging comments and sent us texts and emails about posts she liked.

It was a special treat to have Emily and Shea with us for part of the day Saturday. We loaded up in Tammy's car and headed to Modesto, California and did a little shopping at few stores. Mostly we just enjoyed four young ladies spending the day together. We had great time.

A highlight of the day was lunch at Tahoe Joe's! If you can believe it, we were more excited about eating than shopping.  I had the fabulous Santa Fe Dip sandwich. I highly recommend this choice at Tahoe Joe's

In this picture Tammy and I are ready for the day. She always went out of her way to make sure I was well cared for. She was so afraid she would do something wrong. Tammy would say, "You are precious cargo and I can not let your parents down." 

I know some of these are not the best pictures but I will cherish these forever. 

Tammy and I hanging out while Emily and Shea shoe shopped. 

We both shared a love for southern gospel music. Tammy had became friends with several artists. She attended their concerts and assisted them however possible. I loved hearing her stories. 

After lunch we headed back to Atwater. The other girls needed to do something else so we parted ways until church. Tammy's car found its way to Starbucks again. We liked half price drinks! We took our drinks back to the tent and continued to visit until church time. 

Tammy wanted to help with setup Saturday night. She was blowing the grass off the carpet here and wanted a picture of her working at City Reach on the blog. 

We had an outstanding service Saturday night. God moved amazingly in the altar service. Quickly it was time for Tammy to return home. After several hugs and a quick last picture we said "see you later". She said that "Goodbye was too sad and too final." This time, it really was.

Sunday Tammy texted to let me know she was rejoicing that God had answered a prayer for her Saturday night!! God had built our faith Saturday night during service and her prayer had been answered. I had no idea that would be one of my final text from her. 

Monday, I along with so many shocked people, received the unbelievable news that Tammy had left this life in her sleep. It is devastating news for us left behind. With out a doubt I know Tammy is rejoicing in Heaven. I look forward to a happy reunion someday. 

It is a definite reminder we must live life ready to leave here in a twinkling of an eye. Tammy definitely lived life to the fullest and was ready to go. Everyone knew that she loved them and she was a friend to all!

Several years ago Tammy made it her mission to pray for me and to be my personal encourager. Out of that grew a deep abiding friendship. We rarely went a day without touching base through text or phone. It is my privilege and honor to be her friend. 

Tammy was also a praying lady. She fasted and prayed for me different times without knowing how desperately I needed the boost. Tammy was in tune with God. I know I was not the only one that she helped through life by praying for them. 

Right now I am still in shock that she is gone. I wake up hoping this nightmare will end. So many times I have reached for the phone to call or text her. It just does not seem real! I am extremely grateful that I was able to spend precious time with her! It is a blessing I will cherish forever. 

A group of us mutual friends are trying to rally around each other and help each other through this. Tammy's absence leaves a hole in countless hearts.  We love you, Tammy!!! You were a friend to everyone and had a gift to make everybody feel special. You are definitely missed and life is not the same without you here!

Thank you to all you that have been praying for me and everyone else. Many have let me know you are praying. I know some of you never got to meet the awesome, Tammy Ferguson but you are standing by us in prayer any way. God bless you for it.

Tammy left behind a hurting family too! Please join me in praying that God gives them unspeakable comfort and peace through this heartbreak! I know they are struggling to adjust to the new normal without Tammy. We love you all dearly!

I am going to close with a few pictures I found from our 2015 visit to Riverdale Assembly of God, Tammy's home church. These were taken in October of last year. 

Wearing our Dainty Jewell's dresses

Dilan Rich, Me and Tammy 

 

Matching completely unplanned

Thanks for reading today.

Odie