It Is All About The People!

A very kind lady in a church was encouraging me a few nights ago. She was telling me how much she loves our singing and preaching and our family ministry in general. She was exceedingly kind in her evaluation of us. 

During the conversation, she said, "I could never live and travel like you all do." Of course, I said, "That is OK, we could never live like you do, staying in one spot all the time."😀

Our life is a little out of the norm, I suppose, but it is our life. We are getting to do what we are called to do and there are so many things about it that we love. We love the travel, we love seeing new things, visiting new places, eating new foods, going to new churches and experiencing new things.

The best part of our life, though, is all about the people. We have met and been loved by many, many wonderful people all over America and around the world. In nearly every state there are churches where we feel comfortable and safe among friends that hold us up and pray us through. That is a huge bonus in life!

The last few days I have been thinking about the wonderful people that have been brought into our lives. God ordained men and women to cross our paths and work their way into our hearts. These thoughts reminded me of a story I told here several years ago.

The first night of Dryden Rd. Camp meeting in August of 1993 I saw an old friend from Keller, Texas. He had not been to camp meeting before so I made a point to speak to him and make him feel welcome at my home church. I was so thrilled to see him. His first words to me were these, "Davy boy, I drove a thousand miles to hug your neck and tell you that I love you." Then he did it. He hugged my neck and told me he loved me. 

I was just about speechless because I could tell that he meant every word he said. Add to that the fact that I did not feel like I had very many friends at that moment. (Of course, I had more friends than I knew about.) We visited a few minutes until my responsibilities and his desire to leave and get some rest pulled us apart.

I looked for him the next day but he was not there. He was not there for the rest of the week. I called him the next week and asked what happened to him. Did he get sick? Did he go somewhere else? He said, "Davy boy, I told you I drove a thousand miles to hug your neck and tell you I love you. I did it and then I came back home."

If I thought I was speechless the week before, I was really speechless then. What kind of man drives 2000 miles round trip to hug me and tell me he loves me? What kind of man does that? A man that is a true friend, that is who does that. Only a man that believes in me does that. I knew that day I had a true friend. I knew he believed in me.

I took courage from that extreme act of kindness. I knew if God inspired friends like that to help me then God must intend for me to make it. I knew there were good men that were willing to go to bat for me. I knew they were "on my side." I knew that God must be "on my side" too. For the first time in several weeks, I had confidence that I could be an overcomer, I could win. My friend did all of that for me by driving a thousand miles, hugging me, telling me he loved me and then going back home!

I have rehearsed that story in my mind a thousand times. I have told it personally from the pulpit dozens of times. It is a story I will continue to tell as long as I have memory and breath. It is a story of friendship, loyalty and love. I can not believe I have friends that love me that much, but I do. Wow!

My friend, Bro. L.C. Clounch passed away in the fall of 2013. We were in Florida when he passed. In fact, we were in service with his baby granddaughter and her family that night. I will miss my friend until I see him again.

His dear widow drove up from Texas to visit family and be with us during tent revival in Oklahoma City in 2014. She brought me one of Bro. L.C.'s pocket knives. You see, Bro. L.C. was all about pocket knives. Where Bro. L.C was there were knives, talk about knives and swapping knives. Sis. Clounch said as she handed me one of his knives, "Somebody SENT this to you."

I tell you I was overwhelmed again. I held in my hand a piece of my amazing friend. I knew it would be a constant tangible reminder of his extreme friendship. I will always cherish that knife.

I was overwhelmed when she handed it to me but not as overwhelmed as I was going to be in a few minutes. Sis. Clounch and her son began to tell me the rest of the story behind that trip to Ohio in 1993. Bro. L.C. felt impressed by God to drive that thousand miles to hug my neck and tell me he loved me but there was one small problem. They did not have the money to make a big trip like that. What did he do?

Bro. L.C. went to the bank and borrowed the money to drive 2000 miles round trip just to encourage a preacher that needed it desperately. Are you crying yet? I am slobbering all over the keyboard as I try to type this. He borrowed the money so he could drive all that distance for me. Wow again!

I owe you big time, Bro. L.C.!

Bro. and Sis. Clounch November 2012

What a friend! 

God bless you for reading,

Davy

Our Weekend In The Rearview Mirror 6/10/19

Well, we have finished another exciting weekend out here on the road. The service Friday night was great and made even greater by yet another surprise visit from our friends the Mayhan's from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Odie mentioned Friday afternoon that she anticipated them coming that night and she was right on the mark. It was terrific to have them with us again.

Saturday morning we met them at Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

Thank you for taking time, driving miles and spending dollars to visit us in revivals all over America. We cherish your friendship and we appreciate the efforts you make to keep us connected. We are already looking forward to seeing you soon!

Usually Bro. Bruce and I argue good naturedly over who is going to purchase the meal when we are out. We did not argue Saturday morning and neither one of us bought the meal. What?

Kelly Jo was carrying around Cracker Barrel gift cards that had been gifted to us quite a long time ago by Bro. Evan Binkley. This is Bro. Binkley at PFYC earlier this year.

We had tried to use the gift cards on past visits to Cracker Barrels around the country, but other people we were with insisted on buying so the unused cards were sitting dormant in KJ's purse. We put them back into the economy Saturday morning. Thank you, Bro. Evan!

KJ dropped me back at the BoggsMobile and I puttered around all afternoon, while they enjoyed a little retail therapy. Having lived in Wichita several years ago, Kelly Jo and Odie know all the places to go and have their favorites. They shopped some in the afternoon and a second session on Saturday evening.

The shopping was interrupted by a pleasant trip with Pastor John and Sis. Judy DiZazzo. We enjoyed a fine meal and mine was especially fine with this 12 ounce prime rib!

After we parted ways, the girls went back to shopping and I went back to sermon preparation.

I had almost forgotten, but I did a little shopping myself in the afternoon on Saturday. It was not really shopping, but it sure seemed to stretch into a long shopping venture. I knew exactly what I wanted, I knew the store had it in stock, I had the money to buy it and it still took me 90 minutes to get in and out of there. Whew!

A few years ago a church donated a small set of electronic drums for tent revivals and they served us well. Last year they gave up the ghost so a replacement set has been on the agenda all year. Since next week is the first tent revival of the season, it was time to get on my horse and ride.

I was in the market for an entry level set, with great reviews, cheap price and a small footprint. I decided on Alesis Nitro Mesh 8-Piece Electronic Drum Set and Guitar Center had a set in stock. All that knowledge means I do not have to shop. I go to a store that has the item, walk in, pay and walk out. How in the world was I in there 90 minutes? It is a long, long story.

Anyway, I got them and I hope they work out. Normally I would prefer acoustic drums to electric drums 20 to 1, but for ease of storing them and setting up every night, the electric drums win hands down. Especially when I have a big Meyer Sub like Ben Isaacs gave us for Tent Revival. They sound great with the sub!

Sunday we had two wonderful services. The Lord moved Sunday morning and we had a very sweet altar service. It was especially good to have Bro. Jimmie Radcliffe drive up to be here Sunday morning. We love Bro. Jimmie! 

Thank you, friend.

Odie has been taking a few pictures most services and we will post Revival In Pictures toward the end of the week, by God's grace.

This morning, I am taking the Green Machine into the shop. Pastor DiZazzo's regular mechanic is going to look it over and at least change the thermostat and coolant. Hopefully, he will be able to take care of the problem.

Thank you for reading today.

Davy

Our View Out The Front Window 6/9/19

This was our view out the front window Monday night at a rest area near Ames, Iowa.

This is our view out the front window at Bethany Revival Center in Wichita.



Here are the links to our posts from this last week.

Odie's Saturday Evening Post

Running Roads and Revivals

Tuesday of Bristow 2019

Vintage View Vednesday

Revival In Pictures-Independence, Iowa

Our Weekend In The Rearview Mirror

We always appreciate you taking a moment to drop in to read Mile Markers. Have a great Sunday!

Davy

A Living Miracle

Hey Friends,

This is Odie reporting in from Wichita, Kansas. We are having a fabulous time with our friends at Bethany Revival Center. Thank you to Pastors John and Judy DiZazzo for always rolling out the red carpet to welcome us. Everyone at Bethany makes sure that we are well cared for while we are here!  

The revival services have been great thus far and we still have several more services on the schedule. I am excited to see what God has in store for us the rest of our time here.

A Living Miracle 

Have you seen a living miracle recently? I would like to introduce you to a real miracle today. Little Miss Lillian Faith Blankenship was born last Thursday morning in Oklahoma.

Lillian weighed in at 7 lbs, 9 oz, and 20 in long. I was thrilled to wake up to a text message alerting me of her safe arrival into the world! She made us wait for her debut! I was hoping that she would come earlier so that we could have met her while we were in Oklahoma last month. 

Congratulations to my dear friends Rebecca and Jeffery on their new addition! Lillian is already well loved by her parents and her big sisters Madelyn and Andrea! They have waited for this change in their family for a long time. It is definitely a reason to celebrate! I am praising God along with my friends. Rebecca gave me permission to share their miracle with you too.

Lillian is a direct answer to many prayers! I thank the Lord for hearing those prayers and blessing them with a precious bundle of joy. He gave them the desires of their heart! Lillian’s birth made me remember the words of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:27.

My heart is full to overflowing with thankfulness to God! I am looking forward to meeting her and holding this miracle in my arms! I love her so much already. 

Every baby is a gift from God and babies have a way of tugging tightly on my heartstrings. There are some babies that are just an extra special gift that remind us of God’s faithfulness. 

I just wanted to remind you that prayers are still answered in 2019. Sometimes the answers may not be exactly as we had hoped for them to be, but miracles do happen even today! You can be assured that our God can be trusted! If you are waiting for an answer to prayer keep believing!

Thank you for visiting with me today. I appreciate you spending some of your time here.

Odie

Running Roads and Revival

Our week began Sunday night after church at Calvary Evangelistic Center in Independence, Iowa. We had already loaded the Green Machine into the tent trailer Sunday afternoon so all we had to do was load the sound system into the bus, crank up and hit the road.

We were pulling out a few minutes before 10:00 and heading west on 20 which is like interstate. Then we turned south on I-35. It was not long before we started looking for a rest area to park in and after about 2 hours and 15 minutes and 134 miles we were settled in near Ames, Iowa for a few hours sleep.

We had never been on I-35 in Iowa before and we wanted to see as much of it as possible during the day. It was beautiful. We followed the interstate south through Iowa into Missouri and then around the northwest side of Kansas City into Kansas.

We made a stop in Emporia, Kansas to do the work of the evangelist and to fill up with fuel and soon we were going through the prettiest part of Kansas, the flint hills.

The BoggsMobile was turning the corner and pulling into our familiar parking place at Bethany Revival Center in Wichita, Kansas. Monday we drove 8 hours and 410 miles. I dropped the trailer and then parked the bus next to it and hooked up the utilities.

After visiting with Bro. John and Sis. Judy DiZazzo a while, we carried in our sound equipment and finished our sound check about 10:00 PM.

I told you the other day that we love closing revival on Sunday so that we have two days to drive and rest. There is one catch to that. We are not supposed to add in extra things to do with that extra day like I did Tuesday.

Very early Tuesday morning I slipped out of the bus and drove the Green Machine to Bristow, Oklahoma for a day of camp meeting. I made it for the morning service and stayed over for Tuesday night and drove home Wednesday. I wanted to be supportive of Bro. Gautreaux preaching Tuesday night and I am so glad that I went.

I could have driven home Tuesday night after church and fellowship. I would have been back at the bus by 2. However, even though I did not sleep well overnight, I am so glad that I did not make the trip at night. The little Green Machine ha some problems on the way back Wednesday morning and the 2.5 hour drive took me about 4 hours. Night time trouble would have been a bear.

The first thing I noticed was the air conditioning suddenly was blowing warm. That put my mind on high on alert and my eyes on the dash. A few minutes later I watched as the temp warning light came on and I pulled to the side of the interstate.

I shut down, opened the hood and there was no antifreeze smell, steam or any indication the car was hot. I only had about 2 ounces of water with me, but a patrolman told me there were road workers ahead about five miles. After waiting a while, the high temp light was off so I eased the five miles to the workers.

They gave me 4-5 bottles of drinking water and would take nothing for their help. I only added about 20 ounces to the overflow tank and the only place I could see water was coming from the overflow spout on the overflow tank.

About 20 miles up I stopped at a truck stop, bought plenty of water and added less than 8 ounces. I stopped every 20-30 miles the next 100 miles and added a little water. The only time the high temperature light came on was about a mile after I filled it up with water.

That indicates to me that maybe the thermostat was not opening consistently when it should. Thursday I could not get the temp up too high at all. I am thinking I will have the coolant changed and the thermostat changed and see if that helps. It is about time anyway.

Hopefully, the garage that Pastor DiZazzo uses can get me in today. We shall see. The little car has given me almost zero problems from 73,000 miles to over 193,000 miles. Not too bad!

Wednesday night we began revival and Thursday morning I preached at the Sedgwick County jail. Both services were great, but I absolutely love preaching at the jail. I will be back there again one more day before we finish here in Wichita.

The revival service Thursday night was good too. We are expecting some more great services all the way to next Wednesday. There will be no service Saturday night, but we will be here plugging along every night besides Saturday. Come be with us if you can.

Thank you for reading today.

Davy

Tuesday of Bristow 2019

I will have more of our travels this week in tomorrow's post, but Tuesday was spent at Bristow Holiness Camp in Bristow, Oklahoma. We did not settle into Wichita until late Monday evening so I left the girls in bed and slipped down to Bristow Tuesday morning by myself.

I felt about as awkward as a palm tree at the North Pole without Kelly Jo there, but I wanted to be there to support Bro. Barry Gautreaux preaching Tuesday night. I am glad to report that the Lord touched him in a wonderful way and he preached great.

Bro. Millikin invited me to sit with them for lunch and I had a great visit with friends while eating great food. Pastor John Brock had smoked the brisket for lunch and it was tremendous! I do not mean it was a little tremendous, I mean it was tremendously tremendous! Wow!

We kicked off revival at Bethany Revival Center Wednesday night. Praise God for the good response in the altar. My dear friend, Elder David Bost was visiting from First Church. It was great to have him and a few that came with him.



I love this guy. God has bonded us together through the years and I am thankful for it. He was a huge part of the success of City Reach Wichita in 2015 and it is great to see him each year.

I failed to get a picture of the brisket, but I did remember to take a few pictures. I posted them below and I hope you enjoy them. Thank you for reading today.

Davy