Hey friends, it is Odie reporting in from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Our final City Reach of 2016 is underway. This year of City Reach has flown by. I truly do appreciate anyone who has supported City Reach by prayer, finance or attendance. You have helped us make this dream year a reality.
We are expecting God to do wonderful things here in Fayetteville! Last night was wonderful. If you are close by, come and join us. We would love to have you in service under the Blue And White Gospel Tent. The GPS address of 128 Broad St, Fayetteville, NC will get you close to the tent.
Thank you to everyone who took time to text, email, call or post a comment to wish me happy birthday yesterday. I had a great birthday! I cannot even name all the states that I received calls and text from yesterday. Thank you for taking time to think of me!!
Yesterday was a busy day at the BoggsMobile preparing for City Reach Fayetteville to begin. Mom did take some time out of her busy schedule to prepare me a wonderful birthday dinner.
I love sauerkraut and love to eat it on my birthday. Mom fixed me a healthy, version of my favorite dish, a German Sundae. It usually has potatoes, sauerkraut, sour cream, bacon, mushrooms, cheese and green olives. She fixed it this time with cauliflower instead of potatoes.
It was deliciously awesome and I so appreciate Mom preparing me a wonderful birthday meal! I seriously can not wait until my next German Sundae.
I sat down Thursday night and tried to remember all the places I have spent my birthday around the country. Dad has always said, "If we went with him, he would take us places" and he certainly has. I think this list is correct. Dad would have to look back on his calendars to make absolutely sure.
Here's my quick list that I compiled.
October 14, 1985, I was born in Dayton, Ohio at Miami Valley Hospital. It was on a Monday Night, Columbus Day. The day after the Saurkraut Festival in our hometown of Waynesville, Ohio. That is why I say I have sauerkraut flowing through my veins.
1-5 Ohio
I know I had birthday parties for each of those birthdays. The first one I actually remember was my third birthday party. We were supposed to be in revival in Texas for my 5th birthday but our car broke down. Revival was delayed a few days and I spent my birthday in Ohio.
6 Dundee, Florida. I had a birthday party with the school kids from a church in Dundee, Florida at the park.
7 San Francisco, California. We had a small party in our hotel room with Pastor Rickey Searcy and family.
8-13 Ohio there is a lot of partying going on those years as well!
14 We lived in Kansas but we were in revival in Ohio on my birthday.
15-16 Kansas
For my 15th birthday I remember that we had company visiting from Ohio.
My 16th birthday was October 14, 2001, my Pastor Bro. Bennie Sutherland had been preaching a meeting the weekend before my birthday in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He came to Wichita Kansas and preached the Sunday night of my birthday at our church. Then my parents had a surprise party for me after church at Godfather's Pizza!
17 We were traveling to preach our first revival in El Mirage, Arizona. We stopped and ate a birthday dinner in Amarillo, Texas. That was my first visit to The Big Texan.
18 We were in revival for Bro. Dwayne Watson in Joplin, Missouri. Dad and Mom had to spend the whole day working on problems with our old fifth wheel trailer. Little did I know after church they had planned a surprise party with a bunch of my friends from Missouri and Kansas at Wendy's. I have a funny memory from that night. My birthday cake had blue icing and the majority of us ended up having blue teeth after eating birthday cake. I have pictures to prove it.
19 I was home in Ohio spending the weekend with my family and going to the Sauerkraut Festival. That is the last time I was home for the festival.
20 We were in Atlanta, Georgia in revival. I had a superb birthday lunch at Ruth's Chris steakhouse. It was so good that I still remember it to this day. And Dad took me shopping!! It was a wonderful day.
21 We were in revival in Gainesville, Texas for this one.
22 We were in revival at Paw Creek in Charlotte, North Carolina.
23 We were in revival at Beechfork for Bro. Herman Woods in Tennessee.
24 We were in Sandsprings, Oklahoma in revival for Bro. Darrell Toliver.
25 We were in Riverdale, California preparing to record our live album "Havin' Church" the next day.
26 We were in Tennessee in revival Beechfork Holiness Church.
27 We were in revival in Pine Prairie, Louisiana.
28 We were in revival in Sweeney Texas.
29 We Were in revival in Bloomington, California.
30 The Blue And White Tent was up in Millry, Alabama.
31 City Reach Fayetteville, North Carolina.
God has blessed me with a wonderful life! I am thankful to Him for every day that He has given me! Thank you for helping me celebrate as the years go by.
Thanks for reading.
Odie
