Sunday, July 18, 2004

4:38 PM We are safely ensconced in our room at Word of Life Inn, high in the Adirondack Mountains, in Schroon Lake, New York. Paul and Shirley Bubar picked us up at the Albany airport, took us to dinner, and on the way to the camp, regaled us with stories of their current venture—the restoration of the historic Wells House in Pottersville, a few miles south of Schroon Lake. When it opens in November, it will become a premier destination for tourists and for groups that want to stay at a classic New England inn. We’ve already seen lots of old friends. On our way to lunch we saw golf pro Ron Stansbury. We ate with Joe and Melva Jordan, and with Randy and Connie Faulkner. Randy is the pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. I chatted with Harry Bollback who along with wife Millie had returned from Mexico at 9 AM. He said he took a shower, changed clothes, preached twice, and came to Sunday dinner. “That’s Word of Life,” I said with a laugh. Harry is 80, by the way, but you would never know it. I preach tonight and then twice each morning (one at the Inn in Schroon Lake and once at the Campground in Pottersville) through Friday. Even though we’re in the mountains, it’s hotter here than in Chicago. They’ve had lots of rain this summer so everything is greener than usual. That’s the news so far. We’re off to a good start.