We had a great weekend in Wichita. Saturday the girls did laundry and I tried to prepare for preaching on Sunday. We had a super lunch with Bro. and Sis. DiZazzo and some of the church folks Saturday and that evening Kelly Jo and I grabbed some burritos and drove down to the river.
It was a beautiful night. The river is very high because of all the rain they have been receiving here. The flood control they call the "Big Ditch" is full and flowing fast. All of that is very unusual for Wichita in August.
I was trying to think of a pretty place to sit in the car and had a hard time thinking of a place. We lived here for nearly four years and I could not think of a nice location for a car picnic. I realized that in all the time we lived in Wichita I could not remember taking my girls some where, sitting in the car and enjoying the view and good family time.
We might have done it once or twice but I can not recall it. That means it is certainly something we did not do often, if at all. I stayed way too busy those years engaged in the "work" of the ministry and not enough time with my family. It is something I have repented of before but I did some more repenting Saturday.
The church I pastored was not a demanding church at all. I just did not have my priorities straight. It is a common trap for anybody that loves their work or feels defined by what they do. I loved pastoring that church and spent a lot of time trying to be the best preacher I could be. I was having the time of my life but I spent way too much time in my little study.
Kelly Jo and Odie did not complain one time while we lived in Wichita but they probably should have. I deserved it. They are the most important people in this world to me. I have tried for several years to show them how valuable they are. I am going to try some more!
We started revival yesterday. Both Sunday services were very good. The crowds were good and the response in the altar service was very good too. We are looking forward to some more great services.
I did not take very many pictures Sunday but I am sure I will have opportunity to take more this week.
Davy
It is good to be back with our friends at Bethany Revival Center in Wichita, Kansas. This is the 11th year in a row that Bro. DiZazzo has invited us for revival. We are always excited to come back but they must be gluttons for punishment!
We first visited here way back in the last century. It was in 1999 shortly after we moved to Wichita to pastor at New Horizon. We were hungry for fellowship so we started looking for conservative pentecostal churches. I believe that Bethany Revival Center was the first church we visited.
Bro. and Sis. DiZazzo and their church were very kind to us that night and that started friendships that continue until this day. I am sure it was not completely comfortable walking into a new church that night. We did not know one person. We probably felt like everybody in the building was looking at us like we each had two heads!
But it was worth it! They received us warmly and all these years later we have friends that we can not imagine doing without. It makes me want to go out and be nice to somebody for the fun of it!
Bethany was re-launching their monthly youth service Friday night. I was thrilled to be ask to be a part of it. It was a great service. I really enjoyed preaching to the young people. Something happened that I do not think has ever happened to me in the USA. I am always asking for 100% participation in the altar service and last night I got it!
Yes sir! 100% of those young people came down to the altar and prayed. It was wonderful. Praise God for it! It was not a big crowd but it was a 100% crowd. I can not ask for more than that!
Tomorrow we begin revival. I am excited to see what the Lord is going to do in these services! Please pray for us.
Davy
Even though it has been raining cats and dogs since we have been in Wichita the BoggsMobile had to be washed. It had accumulated over 2000 miles of road grime and I could stand it no longer.
So washing the bus was the first thing on the adgenda Thursday morning. That feels a lot better.
Kelly Jo and I had burritos from another local place for lunch. We had the Carne Asada Burrito and it was pretty good. It's not Humberto's in Phoenix but that is a pretty high standard.
We all jumped in the car and headed for Claremore, Oklahoma for the evening. We had not seen the Millikin's since Bro. Marty has been having health problems so we really wanted to visit with them.
Sis. Millikin has been diagnosed with cancer as well and she began her treatments Wednesday. Bro. Millikin has been having eye surgeries so they all need God to help them.
After visiting and having prayer we went with Bro. Marty, Bro. Jimmy and Sis. Shauna to Los Cabos for supper. It was very good as usual but visiting with our dear friends was even better.
Please continue to pray for the Millikin family. We know God is able to help them. We believe that He will do it.
After supper we started back to the bus and arrived about midnight. Thank God for a good day.
Davy
Yesterday was spent taking care of errands and business but lunch was not neglected. We ate at a little place right across the street from Bethany Revival Center.
It is a buffet of pretty authentic Mexican food called Los Reyes and it was pretty good. It was by far the best local Mexican food we have ever had in Wichita.
And it is right across the street from the church!
Last night we went to church at New Horizon Holiness and had a wonderful time. Pastor Marlin Rogers insisted that I preach so I did the best I could.
I am not sure how it sounded but I felt great trying. That's not the best way to judge preaching though. Lol But I really enjoyed preaching last night.
It was so good to see the folks again. They are very dear to our hearts and it is always great to be able to worship with them and to visit with them.
I appreciate Bro. Rogers and the folks receiving us so warmly. It means so much to us. God bless you all.
Bro. and Sis. Rogers
The BoggsMobile and the Green Machine at Bethany.
We also had a pretty special thing happen Wednesday. I can not explain it all here but it was tremendous for us.
God answered a very specific prayer for our family yesterday. It is something we have prayed about for well over 12 years. Hallelujah! God is faithful and righteous!
It is amazing to watch God work. He may not come when you want Him but He'll be there right on time. He's an on time God, Yes He is! Praise God!
We hope to spend time with some more special friends today. Have a great day!
Davy
Wow! What a toad strangler we had here this morning! In fact we had two nasty looking storm systems blow through Pender, Nebraska before 10:00. Didn't it rain, children, didn't it rain!
The water piled up on Odie's wheel chair cover.
I was sitting outside early this morning waiting on the tech from Blue Ox to pick up my tow bar. I was reading and had not been paying attention to the sky. Well, the sky opened up and all the water fell out.
I grabbed my chair and threw it in the car and I rode out that squall in the front seat. It was a wicked storm with lots of huge thunder claps. I took the picture above after that front passed.
The sun came out, the sky cleared, the temperature went up and then it rained another bucket load all over again.
Wow! You talk about fickle weather! That reminds me of something Kelly Jo and I have laughed about for years.
We grew up in southern Ohio and heard people make some version of the following statement all our lives.
They would say, "The weather in Ohio is different than any where else. If you don't like the weather here just stick around 15 minutes and it will change."
We started traveling soon after we were married and found that folks say that every where. After we heard the same exact statement in about 5 different states it was all we could do to keep from busting out laughing.
After hearing the same thing in about 30 states from people that absolutely believe in only applies to their area we just chuckle and grin. The weather may be different but people are the same every where.
This picture is a sample of the pretty weather we have had all afternoon.
What, you don't like sunshine and blue skies? Well, hang around about 15 minutes. Here in Nebraska, it will probably change! Lol
We are staying in Pender another night. The tech was covered up today with tow bars to work on. On top of that, mine had some special problems they had to deal with.
Because of that they did not get finished and get me cashed out until about 3:00 PM. We would have been 4:00 leaving so we decided to leave tomorrow.
They really took care of my tow bar here at the Blue Ox factory. They believe in customer service enough to actually put it into practice.
My tow bar is too old to be as good as new but it is as close as it has been in a long time. Plus it has a bunch of new parts! The cost? $25 + tax.
Great service + Great attitude + Great price = A Great Deal.
I have always liked the Blue Ox towing system and now I have even more reason to like them. I have been a loyal customer but they have cemented that loyalty with great service.
That is a rarity in today's world.
Davy
