Pine Prairie, Louisiana

Wow! We have had four awesome services at Christian Tabernacle in Pine Prairie, Louisiana. We ended up with a few extra days and Pastor Barry Gautreaux invited us by and God was surely in it. Each service was absolutely powerful. I thank God that He still visits His people in these troublesome times. We have enjoyed the presence of the Lord as He challenged us each night.

We closed Tuesday night because we have an appointment Thursday morning at Prevost in Ft. Worth, Texas for the BoggsMobile. Pine Prairie is about 375+ miles from Ft. Worth so we are driving that today. We are having the front brakes worked so we will probably be there most of the day tomorrow. We are supposed to start revival in Morrow, Arkansas Sunday morning so we should have plenty of time if all goes well.

Thanks for praying for us each day.

Davy

Rudy Middleton - A Tribute

We lost a dear friend on April 22, 2011. Although we didn't get the news until after the visitation and the funeral were over our hearts ache for Sis. Irene, Rudy's wife of 63 years. Rudy and Irene have been our close friends for many years. They welcomed us into their lives, their home and their hearts when Kelly Jo and I were only teenagers. 

May God bless Irene and her children. I know this has to be terribly difficult for them. 

I met Rudy at Red Lion Church when I was 16. His infectious smile won me over instantly. Through all these years Rudy made it a priority to be my personal encourager. He always had an extremely positive attitude and did his best to infuse that positive attitude into others. 

Rudy always pointed me to the bright side, cautioned me about dwelling on things I can't change and challenged me to focus on the things I can change. He always extended a hand of friendship and he ALWAYS did it with a smile. Anybody that knew Rudy will never forget that smile. 

Rudy helped shape who I am today. Much I the advice that I give others is rooted in those long talks with my dear friend Rudy Middleton.

He wasn't a preacher but he loved preachers and he loved gospel music. He loved to play his 1957 Gibson J-200 guitar and sing  old gospel songs. One of his favorites was "God Reached Way Below The Bottom." Rudy was just as content to play his drums while others were singing. Oh the hours we've spent playing music with Rudy in churches, living rooms and basements. 

Rudy was a very hard worker, a fiercely loyal friend and a Godly man. My world is a better place because of Rudy and I have a sneaking suspicion that I am only one of very many who could say the same thing. 

Rudy, I'm confident I'll see you in just a little while. Thanks for choosing to be my friend and doing it so well. 

Davy


Rutherford "Rudy" Middleton, age 83, of Franklin, OH; died Friday April 22, 2011 at Miami Valley Hospital. Rudy was born in Owsley County, KY on January 5, 1928 to Columbus and Mary (Moore) Middleton. He was a veteran of U. S. Army after WW II serving in Germany and loved singing Christian music. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Ernie, brothers Berlin and Lester, and Edgar Johnson. Rudy is survived by his wife 63 years Ruth Irene (Hutchins) Middleton; a daughter Joyce Aills and her husband Steve; 2 sons J.R. Middleton and Doug Middleton and wife Carol; grandchildren Josh, Chris, Zach, Sarah, and Christy; great grandchildren Samantha, Willy, Allie, and Jason; sister Freda , a brother Chester.

Greater Love Hath No Man Than This...

One of the first stories that I read on my phone about the recent round of terrible tornadoes in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and beyond was about a Louisiana police officer who protected his little girl with his own body while the tornado swept through their campsite. Moments later a large sweetgum tree fell on him and he was killed.  His child escaped without physical injury. She lives because of his sacrifice.

They have now released some details.  The officer's name is Lieutenant Wade Sharp, 40,  from Covington, Louisiana. He was a 19 year veteran of the Covington Police department and has risked his life at least twice before to rescue others from burning houses. They were vacationing with several other families near Ackerman, Mississippi. (Just about 80 miles from where we were last week) In the last few moments of his life Lt. Wade Sharp acted exactly as he always had.  He put himself in harms way in order to protect some one else. This many truly lived and died a hero.

There is much tragic news from these storms. We are all reading of the horrendous size and incredible power of the tornadoes, the terrible destruction, the loss of property, the loss of so many lives and the helpless feeling in many that remain. We are seeing the images of the tornadoes, the havoc they wrought and the chaos they left in their path. We will be remembering these stories and images for a long time to come. For those that have been directly affected by these storms all across the southeast, it will be a long and arduous road to recovery.

Yet in the midst of all the terrible, bad, bad news, stories emerge like the one I told to you above. Wade Sharp and others we are beginning to hear about acted on instinct and went beyond the "normal" requirements of life and put others needs and safety before their own. They didn't act out of duty or obligation.  They acted out of Love. Love drives men and women to be willing to lay down their lives for others.

Jesus told us in John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Then Jesus went to the cross and demonstrated exactly how to do it. He demonstrated the selflessness of true love. We live in a selfish world and in this selfish world, to see the selflessness of love demonstrated is very refreshing.

The impact of the loss of Wade Sharp will be keenly felt by his wife, children, coworkers and community for a very long time. But his daughter lives because Wade Sharp loved. A family of 14 in Alabama lives because their father, Tom Lee loved. Many others lived through those terrible storms because some one else loved. The tragedy is heart wrenching but the demonstrated love is heart warming.

It occurs to me now that it is not too late to save and help others with our love. We weren't there to do something spur of the moment and heroic but it's not to late to do something selfless. I know two good churches that are in Tuscaloosa and I know they are distributing food and water and helping in any way they can. I am going to contact them and see what we can do. I can not be there but I can possibly send money. In fact, I am sure there is something that each one of you can do. Sometimes love costs us something but it is always worth it.

Thank God that love is still producing heroes in this selfish world.

Davy

Easter Shots From My Canon Camera

We had a wonderful day Sunday celebrating the resurrection of Christ. I am so grateful that my Savior is Alive!

We are having a fabulous time with the Boyd Family in Sterlington, Louisiana! Bro. Tracy is my buddy! I like to give him a hard time, but it is all in fun. He dishes it out to me too. Sis. Shea is an amazing lady! I am so blessed to be able to call her my friend. Dayla, Darah and Kaylee are precious girls! They are sweethearts and I love them! We have a blast together. Ok I am just Boyd Family Fan!! It just proves that God's people are just the best people.

The services of revival have been great thus far! The presence of God has been so sweet. We are looking forward to the rest of the week. Praying for souls to be saved!

Here are pics from Sunday. The church here is a great place to take pictures. Hope you enjoy!

Odie

Pastor Boyd and Family

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Sterlington, Louisiana - Sterlington Holiness Tabernacle

We had a great Easter in Sterlington, Louisiana. Services were wonderful and the Spirit of the Lord visited us in a great way. It was the first Easter in Sterlington's new sanctuary and what a beautiful day it was. The new church is pretty awesome. Pastor Tracy Boyd and his congregation have labored so hard for several years and their work is evident in their new church. Below you will find a few few pictures of the new building. I know that Odie snapped several pictures with her camera so maybe she can post better pictures later in the week.

Pray for us as we have revival here at Sterlington this week. We are asking God to move in this community and save souls. Bro. Tracy, Sis. Shea and the congregation are hungry for a divine visitation. I believe God will honor that kind of hunger.

God bless you all.

Davy

(Updated) He Wouldn't Stay Dead - Easter - Resurrection Sunday

Update: Hat Tip to my brother, Steve Boggs for finding the author of the poem below.  It is an awesome poem and the author certainly deserves the credit. His name is Willard G. Thomas according to two different websites that include this poem. (Note: Outside links may expire or change content over time.)


Praise God for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We as Christians celebrate the fact that Christ arose every day of our Christian experience. Today, Easter or Resurrection Day, is a day of special remembrance of the momentous occasion when the Son of God, God in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord conquered death, hell and the grave! He died to pay the penalty for our sin and He rose again that we might have new life! Praise God He is Alive!

Below is a poem that I have quoted in my preaching for many, many years.  It was written by a Baptist preacher from Georgia. I heard him quote it in person long years ago. It spoke to me then and it speaks to me every time I think of it. I have lost the name of the man who wrote it but I love this poem. I added the last stanza when I started quoting it myself.

May God bless you on this Easter. If you are not a Christian, may you be moved by the fact that Jesus Christ died for you and then got up out of the grave for you as well.

Davy

He Wouldn’t Stay Dead

by:Willard G. Thomas

They laid His body in Joseph’s new tomb

And filled His disciples with sorrow and gloom

They did not remember what He had said

That He would die, but He wouldn’t stay dead

Mary came at the break of day

And found the stone was rolled away

She saw an angel and in terror fled

And told His disciples that He didn’t stay dead

In that cold dark tomb He would not stay

He conquered death and walked away

And now that old grave has lost it’s fear and dread

He lives again! He wouldn’t stay dead

Full atonement and pardon were made

And forever the sin debt was marked fully paid

The price was His blood as it flowed crimson red

And I’m thankful today that He didn’t stay dead!

Let’s go to our churches and cry aloud

Let’s go to the marketplace and talk to the crowd

Let’s go to the mission fields that lie up ahead

And tell the whole world that He didn’t stay dead!

Because if Jesus Christ had only died

Then the gulf between us and God would still be wide

But thank God He did what He said

He got up out of the ground, He couldn’t stay dead!

Last Stanza by Davy Boggs