Bethany Revival Center Wichita, Kansas

We started revival at Bethany Revival Center in Wichita on Sunday morning. I am always excited to come back to Wichita where we pastored New Horizon Holiness Church from 1999 to 2003. It is good to see the folks again and spend time in the town we called home for about four years. The best way to describe Wichita is a big city with a small town feel. It really is a nice place.

Revival has been very good so far. Service last night was tremendous. I will try to take some more pictures and post a more extensive update a little later. The first picture is the awesome steak the DiZazzo's grilled for lunch and other pictures are some random shots at Braum's Monday after church.

Davy

Memorial Day 2011

I hope you are having a blessed Memorial Day. Bro. DiZazzo is grilling for our families today and that will probably be the extent of our Memorial Day celebrations since we are in revival this week. But Memorial Day is so much more than hamburgers, hot dogs and a trip to the lake. Memorial Day is the official day to remember the men and women who gave their lives for us in service to their country. It is a day to decorate the graves of brave solders that made the ultimate sacrifice but has evolved for most folks into a day to decorate the graves of our loved ones as well and to remember those that have meant so much to us when they were alive.

It is a sobering thing to remember those that have protected our nation, defended our freedom and set our course. I am sure that in Miami Cemetery, less than a mile from where I was raised, that they are probably having a ceremony marking Memorial Day as I type this post. I played in the band for that ceremony two years while in Jr. High School and I still remember the solemness that was impressed upon me during those events. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the veterans of WWII were in their 50s and early 60s. They were  the leaders of our community and were still strong and vibrant. I watched many of them as they wiped tears from their eyes as the flag was raised, the guns were fired and the prayers were offered. Strong men holding back tears, putting their hands over their hearts and bowing their heads grabbed my attention. 

There were Vietnam veterans there as well. Although they seemed old to me then, most of them were younger than my dad was at the time and 10-15 years younger than I am now. They didn't tear up as easy as the veterans from WWII and Korea but you could easily see they were affected just the same.

These men, along with my dad who is a Navy veteran, made Memorial Day real to me. We were in that cemetery honoring men that were just real as the men standing around me. They were men with families and futures, hopes and dreams. Those men sacrificed all of that so that I could live in a free America. Their families were left, their futures were cut off and their hopes and dreams vanished on a battle field in France, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, Korea or some other far flung place. How could I not honor that?

The seriousness of that sacrifice has never left me and I pray that it never does. I thank God for those men and for those men who are still giving their lives today in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. Maybe you can't go to a cemetery today and decorate a grave. Maybe you are working today or you will spend it with friends and family with a hamburger and cold bottle of water as we will. But take a moment to thank God for men who are willing to give all and to pray for their families that sacrificed with them.

I could preach a sermon right now on what God gave and what our response should be but no sermon today. Just a reminder to mark this special day and remember... We must never forget...

Davy

Congratulations On Your Graduation Deidre Boggs

Update: Deidre on her big day!

Senior picture May 2011 Taken by Theresa Osborn


Deidre in 1999


Fat DD - Doctored by Steve Boggs


Deidre at my graduation May 2003


Deidre in Kentucky June 2003


Deirdre in Florida June 2008


Deidre in Nashville, Tennessee at the Aquarium Restaurant June 2008


Deidre Christmas 2010


Today Deidre Fay Boggs will graduate from Waynesville High School. For 18 years now Deidre has brightened our world. I am so proud of her! She has worked hard in high school, taking several Honors classes. She even completed her high school classes in 11th grade. Her senior year she attended college classes! So today the hard work is paying off.

I could blog for weeks with just crazy Deidre stories. I will share some of my favorites. Remember these stories are from the " Honors Student". Some of you have met Deidre in her summer travels with us, you all know she is a true blonde!

Several years ago Uncle Steve, Aunt Karen and the kids went on a family vacation to St. Louis. It was the kids first time to fly. Deidre age 6 told me " I am gonna get on the plane open the window and take a picture of the clouds. But I will be careful not to drop my camera." I think she still tries to find the window latch on plane windows!!

In 1997 our whole family went to Gatlinburg for vacation. When they pulled up to the house Uncle Steve opened the van door,Deidre exclaimed Ooooh. When asked what was wrong? She replied " I ALMOST saw a bear"!

Deidre was about 6 when there was a family garage sale at Uncle Tommy's. Deirdre answered the phone and went into garage telling Aunt Theresa there was a phone call. Theresa went to get the phone but could find it. She asked Deidre where's the phone? Deidre replied I had no where to put it so I hung it up!

Summer of 2009 Deidre was in Virginia with us. Dad was having her sing one night. He got brave and asked her to testify. Deidre said "I NEVER want to thank the Lord" Mom said Deidre try again, so she repeats herself. " I NEVER want to thank the Lord". Dad just shook her blonde curls and said, " folks this blond hair is real! Sing, Deidre"!

She want trying to say I never want to FAIL to thank the Lord. The next night Dad gave her another chance this time she said it correctly. I asked her why in the world did you start your testimony like that again? She said to prove I could get it right!

This one tops the cake as the best story! This happened the week before Mothers Day this year. Deidre drove to pick Victor up from a class. While waiting in her "locked" car for Victor her car battery went dead. Deidre frantically calls Aunt Karen, here's something like how the conversation sounded. MOM MOM MY BATTERY IS DEAD I DON'T HAVE POWER IN MY CAR. THE DOORS ARE LOCKED HOW WILL I GET OUT? Aunt Karen calmly tells her, Deidre, calm down! Look at the door see the handle? Pull that handel and your door will open! Deidre had no idea she could manually unlock the door. I don't know how Aunt Karen managed to stay calm. I was heehawing before Aunt Karen could finish telling us the story!

So today I am here in Ohio to watch my "book smart" cousin receive her diploma. I will be beaming with pride as she walks across the stage.

I was the only grandchild for nearly 7 years before Dee came along. I will never forget Christmas Day 1991 Aunt Karen told me that I was getting a cousin. I was so excited!! August 26th 1992, my world changed. We have had many fun times together. We are not only cousins but we are sisters and best friends!! Love you, Deidre!

Over the years Deidre has garnered many nicknames. Dee,DD, Derman Ed Ed, Deider, and Detroit. One night we stopped by a Church Of God in North Carolina. A lady asked Deidre her name, Deidre clearly pronounced her name. The lady said "Egypt that's a pretty name!" So Egypt has stuck around too. The Shuecraft boys in 2008 tagged her as "Dramatic Deidre" that is very appropriate for her.

Yesterday was Deidre's Open House. We had a great time celebrating. I will do picture recap when I get back to my Laptop on the BoggsMobile.

Odie