It’s a delight to be home from the ten day trip to Germany and Austria.    In Austria, I had the joy of speaking at the Vienna International Christian Center Assemblies of  God church, pastored by my friend, Tom Manning.    I remember a decade ago when Tom came to my office with a dream of a great church in  Europe.  Today, that church in Vienna is probably the largest Pentecostal church in western Europe.  Well over a thousand people attended that grand service just a week ago.   From there it was on Garmisch, Germany, for the U.S. Military Personnel Retreat at the Edelweiss Military Resort, perched at the foot of Zugspitze Mountain, the tallest one in Germany.     The beauty is simply unparalleled.   With me on this trip were my brother Ben and his precious wife Linda.    

I loved driving the autobahn across Germany and Austria.    The speed limit there is 120 KLM, which is about 80 MPH.   However, driving at 120 K means you are going to get driven over and stomped on.     I know that many vehicles passed me doing at least 120 MPH – or 180 K’s.   

How I loved the mountains.   At the peak of Zugspitze Mountain, about 10,000 feet, I tromped around in snow.   We reached that pinnacle by cable car.   Wow, what a ride!     We also visited the great castle of King Ludwig, the fabled Neuschwanstein Castle.    It’s the castle Disney used to model his famous Cinderella castles in his amusement parks.    I have seen a lot of European castles, but none to equal this one.    Unfortunately, Ludwig put all his eggs in three “castle” baskets and none of them was finished prior to his mysterious death.    How foolish it is to put all your faith in earth’s treasures.

But for now….it’s just good to be home!

Just a week ago, Darlene had major spinal surgery.    The highly invasive procedure required several hours on the operating table.    In all our 52 years, I have never seen Darlene in such pain.    However, our doctor assured her that she would recover full mobility once again, even though the total recovery time will take most of the rest of this year.    Thanks for all your prayers, concern, e-mail, letters and flowers.   Speaking of which….her room at the hospital looked like a florist shop!     How thoughtful of so many of you.

Wednesday morning, the 8th, I leave for Munich, Germany.     I am so sorry that Darlene cannot make this trip with me – we had planned on her being able to do so.    I fly to Atlanta where I’ll meet my brother Ben and his wife Linda.     In Munich, we have rented a car and we will make a leisurely drive to Vienna, Austria – about 300 miles.     We don’t take the autobahn but opt rather for the scenic routes through the Alps in Bavaria and then up past Linz and on into Vienna.   I am preaching there over the weekend for Missionary Thomas Manning whose international church now attracts a thousand people each week – an astounding feat in Western Europe these days!    A week from today, the three of us will drive to Garmisch, Germany, where I speak for four nights at the US MIlitary Personnel Retreat.     This will be my second opportunity to do this.     25 years ago, Darlene and addressed the retreat when it was held in Bertchtesgaden, Germany, which was the home in World War II to Adolf Hitler and his motley band of Nazi cutthroats.    Being a WWII history “nut,” we visited the ruins of the various Nazi heirarchy homes, the bunkers and tunnels and the Eagle’s Nest high atop the Kehlstein Mountain.     Two years ago, on our 50th anniversary we revisited thos historic places.      This year will be work, work, work.    And home again.

I am thrilled that our son David, a 14-year veteran missionary in Africa, will fill the pulpit for me next weekend.