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The Native American conference in Lawton, OK, greatly inspired me.  Bros. Don Hanscom, Jeff Chavis, William Welch and others did an outstanding job of presenting their burden for Native Americans, or as they are often called, the first Americans.  I especially enjoyed meeting the group of Navaho Indians from New Mexico.  Bro. Yazzie, their ministry leader, read a passage of scripture in the Navaho language to begin the service Friday night.  It was beautiful.  I had read somewhere that Navaho was used during WWII to send highly secretive messages to our troops because the Japanese could not translate it.  I asked the men from the Navaho tribe whether this was true and they confirmed it for me.  I wonder if the devil cannot translate the messages that are preached in Navaho?  Maybe I’m taking that a bit too far. 

The day before we left for Oklahoma, we stopped by Lewisville, TX and visited Mike and Debbie Sales.  Debbie (Heims) Sales attended our church in Toledo for ten years before meeting Mike.  She has always been special to us.  They gave us a grand tour of their new church building.  It is awesome!  The expert craftsmen in their church put touches on the decor that go far beyond what you would expect in a typical sanctuary.  Nearly every feature you could want has been incorporated into their design.  

Our stay with Bob and Donna Myre in Paris, TX was phenomenal.  He worked me hard…three messages on Sunday…but we had a wonderful time with them and their very sweet church people…and beautiful family.  We only get to do things like this a few times in a lifetime, so we enjoyed it to the hilt.  Before we flew home on Monday, we ate dinner with Dan and Gayla Rigdon at the Gaylord Texan Resort.  I cannot describe the breathtaking architecture of the resort to you.  Get on the web and see for yourself.  The Rigdons are very special people.  We’ve known them almost all our ministerial lives.  Gayla grew up as one of the Dyer girls in Newark, OH, so she and Sandy have been friends since they were tots.  He has now semi-retired and enjoying life in a new dimension.  He just got back from a motorcycle ride to Jackson Hole, WY.  It was sad to leave great friends, but we knew we were coming home to Kinzie, so we were eager to get back!