Bethany Revival Center in Pictures

Praise God for a great revival at Bethany Revival Center in Wichita, Kansas. This week has been a flurry of activity, great food, super fellowship and wonderful services. It is hard to believe it is over so quick. We sure do love these folks and we are already looking forward to coming back next year by His grace.

I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking in this post.

Davy

Nice hair, Bro. John!

Catching a Break or Two!

I know it seems like life is always throwing you a curve and kicking you in the face. We have days and even weeks like that too. In times like that you wake up every morning hoping to catch a break. 

Some days you have to look pretty hard for bright spots. We know that God is in control but its nice to see a little evidence in your everyday life. 

We definitely want to be thankful in every thing, even difficult things, but we want a chance to praise Him for some good things too, right?

Two nice things happened to us this week. Nothing breathtaking. But neat little things that cause us to be thankful. 

You remember the broken windshield? In the interest of lower premiums I pay a higher deductable for glass replacement. With all the glass on the BoggsMobile it helps. 

I have now bought two windshields out of pocket this year so I may need to reconsider that thinking. 

I wanted to replace the one the Green Machine the first full day we were in Wichita. I really did not want to drive 400 miles round trip to Claremore, Oklahoma with that break right in my line of sight. 

I could not get an appointment so I put it off until this week and drove to Oklahoma and back Thursday with the windshield cracked. 

On the way to Tulsa a rock flew up and put a brand new chip in my already damaged windshield. IF my plan had worked out then that new chip would have been in my brand new glass. 

That chip did not bother me at all since the windshield was going to be replaced any way. Since it has happened exactly opposite of that on other occasions I am thankful to catch a break this time. (pun intended)

The second nice thing that happened this week also involves the Green Machine. 

The long green piece of trim above the license plate has the door handle to the lift gate on the bottom side of it. Toyota calls it the lift gate garnish. 

It came loose several weeks ago and closer inspection revealed one side was broken. We fastened it with Velcro and tried to be very careful each time we opened and closed it. 

We load Odie's wheel chair in the back so the garnish was on the edge of falling off every time we drove the Green Machine. 

It needed to be replaced soon. 

When we received mail from home Saturday there was a notice from Toyota. It was a "Warranty Enhancement" notice specifically for that very problem. It did not even require me to be the first owner.

Toyota realized it was a poorly designed piece and completely covered the cost of a replacement on my 2006 Scion Xb. That is a SEVEN year old car.

How cool is that? A "Warranty Enhancement" notice to repair our exact problem on a seven year old car. I do not even know how Toyota knew I owned the car. I have bought a couple of parts from the Toyota dealer but nothing that required me giving them the VIN.

Thank you Jesus.

Davy

Sedgwick County Jail

This is our 11th year in a row preaching revival at Bethany Revival Center and my 7th year preaching at the Sedgwick County Jail while we are here in revival. Preaching in the jail is always one of the highlights of our visit to Wichita.

Several of the church members here have volunteered at the county jail through the years. They really have a heart to minister to the inmates and God has used them to affect many lives. Bro. Charles Mitchell conducts some of the weekly chapel services and is faithful to invite me to take part.

This year I was invited to preach Tuesday morning and this morning. (Thursday) We had great services both days. The crowd was smaller than usual Tuesday but God really ministered in the altar and that is what matters any way.

Bro. Larry Landress is here today and Bro. Charles was able to get him cleared to go in with us. Bro. Larry has been ministering in jails and prisons for at least 30 years and he was a tremendous addition and blessing to the service today.

God used him mightily to preach to the inmates. As he told the testimony of the total transformation of a death row inmate several years ago we were literally on the edge of our seats. He definitely had everybody's attention.

He turned the service to me and the obvious thing to do was get those men in the altar as soon as possible. God moved in the lives of those men. The first man in the altar was dropping the biggest tears I have ever seen on the altar as soon as he knelt. Praise God for His help and grace.

Bro. and Sis. Landress plan to be with us in church tonight and we are looking forward to see what the Lord is going to do in the service. Each night has been good. Thank you for praying for us. God bless you all.

Davy

Now You See It, Now You Don't

Tuesday morning I was scheduled to preach at the Sedgwick County Jail at 9:30. I dropped the Green machine at The Windshield Shop at 8:00. Bro. DiZazzo picked me up and we met Bro. Charles Mitchell at the Jail.

We had a great service but I will probably tell you more about that later in the week.  I love preaching at this jail.

See the crack in the windshield?

See it now?

It was finished and ready to drive when Bro. DiZazzo dropped me off about 11:00 and it looks real good.

After it rained yesterday afternoon I could see what looked like a scratch on the new windshield but I will look closer in the light this morning.

Davy

A Special Guest

We had a big surprise and super special treat Sunday night. After we had went back to the BoggsMobile Sis. DiZazzo text me to let me know she needed to deliver a package before we went to bed. 

We waited a few minutes and she knocked on the door. She said the package was heavy and she needed our help to carry it in. 

We went outside and found our special package. The "package" was our dear friend from Boston, Esther!

We met Esther here in Wichita several years  ago and she usually comes to revival every year. This year it did not look like she would be able to come. 

She was able to shake free from her commitments and catch a flight Sunday evening. She surprised every one including the DiZazzo's!

What a wonderful bonus for our visit to Wichita. Esther is a sweet and thoughtful lady and we love her very much. She is very dear to our family. 

Revival is going good and we are expecting greater things in the days ahead. Please pray for us. 

Davy

Wonderful Wichita Weekend

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