I’m going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
I’m going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
They got a crazy way of loving there
And I’m gonna get me some.

I’ll be standing on the corner
On the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine
I’m gonna be standing on the corner
On the corner of Twelfth Street and Vine
With my Kansas City baby
And a bottle of Kansas City wine.

And there we stood, at the street corner that was featured in the famous popular song that was penned by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Now it serves as a monument for a park that is in downtown Kansas City.
It stands as reminder of the jazz music culture that was once prevalent in this area. After this, we went to an memorial for Lewis and Clark that was erected at a point that overlooked the Missouri River. Independence, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City was where Lewis and Clark embarked on their journey in forming the Northwest Passage. History. The consequences, positive or negative, of the seeds we sow and the actions we take. These thoughts run through my mind when I visit new places. A city, country, or even the world for that matter, are shaped and formed by the actions of people and their visions.

One vision that has been realized is the ministry of the International House of Prayer (IHOP). The purpose of IHOP is to offer a 24/7 payer center, and features a band that sings praise songs and hymns. This afternoon we met with Daniel and Autumn Katz, friends of BJ. Autumn is on staff at IHOP as a worship leader, and she gave us the grand tour of the grounds. They have it all here. Real Estate, a cafe, bookstore. I was quite impressed with their complex, but what’s even more amazing is that the whole school started in a trailer, and has grown into an international organization.

Speaking of sowing and growing, today is an important day. It is BJ and Karen’s anniversary. BJ had asked me if he could write an addition to this entry that made reference to this. After much hesitance and proofreading, I agreed to it. These are BJ’s words:

Today is Karen’s and my 35th wedding anniversary. We were married at 2:00 pm on Saturday July 28th, 1973 at THE GOSPEL TABLERNACLE on Elm Street in Carlsbad, California. We honeymooned at Vacation Village in Mission Bay, California and then 10 days later loaded up our Volkswagon bug and began our new married life as we drove to Nashville, Tennessee. Now, two boys and 35 years later, we are living in Jackson, Mississippi and spending our 35th anniversary apart. Karen is in Jackson, Mississippi where she is working at the Music administrator at Belhaven College and I am in Kansas City, Missouri staying the night with our good friends the Joey Condon family and our Mississippi friend Guinn Terry Davis. Guinn and I are on a cross country trip to Los Angeles where he will pursue his passion for writing and film. Karen’s releasing me to be gone on our special day is further evidence of the amazing women of God that she is. Karen is all about ministry and has been as excited as I am about seeing Guinn follow his dreams and calling.

So Karen, I love you. Thank you for 35 amazing years of marriage. You have honored me by consenting to be my wife. I can’t wait to get home to you.

Love,

Bob

Together Forever, Remember my love
Together Forever, Remember My Love.
Since God has made the two of us, we now shall be as one
What God has joined we will not part; this new life has begun

Together Forever, Remember my love
Together Forever, Remember My Love.
I pledge my life and honor to, my strength I give to thee
And as I give I ask of thee, thy love, thy life for me.

Together Forever, Remember my love
Together Forever, Remember My Love.
Together Forever

By Derric Johnson

On a final note, I had the delightful pleasure of adding Joey A. Condon and Robert A. Johnston (BJ’s full name) to my PIBIPP list; People I Beat in Ping-Pong. Being far away from home, the climate certainly favored BJ and Joey, and on top of that, BJ has been touted as a salty veteran and has many feathers in his cap, including championships in the state of Hawaii and Washington. A formidable opponent indeed. But the torch was passed and yours truly prevailed. Truly a triumph.