Gone for me are the days of 700-800 mile rides, my body just can’t take it
after the surgery. So we have been exploring areas around home, making a 100
mile radius of San Diego, and although tracing, and retracing many miles, we
have found places we passed over on the way to other places. We once would ride
200 miles for lunch-each way, now a 200 mile round trip is called a day. But
among those 200 mile round trips is Boulevard, an exit off of I-8 east of San
Diego, or where two old roads converge. One road out, one road back, but the
reason for the ride is Wisteria Candy Cottage. Since 1926 in this old house, in
a town where the population is double digits, some of the best chocolate
anywhere is found. Hershey’s, Ghiradelli, Godiva, are all big names, but
Wisteria is big time chocolate. And worth an afternoon ride just for that.
Plus a good chance to wear the sides off of your tires, almost no traffic on the
road, and if you must, take the freeway and cut the time, and some of the fun in
half. Impress your chocolate loving wife today.....
A shorter ride by freeway, but accessible using only back roads is Old Town
Orange. Smack in the center of Orange County, take a trip back 50 years, where
you can walk the sidewalks, park for free, and sit in the park and watch the
fountain, or read, or people watch, while sitting in the center of the
roundabout. Where traffic stops when you leave the curb, and antique shops
invite you in. Grab a burger and shake at Wilson’s Pharmacy, as many have for
over 100 years, or eat at the Filling Station among the college crowd. But our
favorite is Taco Adobe, great South American food, not Mexican, somehow this
gourmet chef makes the best tacos around. Sit on the sidewalk, bask in the sun,
and relax. We do-note the chicken fajitas are to kill for. And again a Rocky
Mountain Chocolate Factory for desert.
Looking for a place to eat healthy and still taste good, Simple Simon’s in
Riverside, across from the Mission Inn. Great baked bread, the sourdough is
unreal, big sandwiches, and of course dessert, fresh from the oven. Sitting in
or on the patio, no rushing, except to get in. A good reason to go to
Riverside, just for the food. You would never guess that from the freeway. On
the other side of healthy, read greasy, old school, and ultra comfort is Flo’s,
at the Chino airport. You don’t have to fly in, although I have, how cool is
that, look for lots of bikes on weekends. It seems nothing cannot be made
better without gravy on it, and at your denial, they won’t cover your eggs,
potatoes, and meats with gravy. Nothing fancy, you can’t eat atmosphere, walk
it off at the Warbirds Museum, then recover by riding all day. Right through
lunch....More back roads can take you to Redlands, where Saverino’s Italian
Market and Deli calls you. In an old industrial area, untouched by yuppie
hands, they serve great Italian food, big portions in a friendly atmosphere.
Great sauce. And save room for desert, tiramisu is always a great desert. Lots
of locals, always a good bet, and if the fire department eats there, you know it
is good. Don’t count your calories, each bite will put you way over. Ever see
a skinny Italian chef? Was Sophia Loren skinny? Eat and enjoy, then ride
again, up to Oak Glen.
In the fall when it is apple season, the air at 3500” is filled with good
reasons to escape for anything apple. Our favorite, the mini apple donuts, not
telling which place, start in the east, ride west, turn left down a dirt
road...oops. Sit back and enjoy the live blue grass music, and forget you are
only a 70 minute ride home if you avoid the freeways. Again,wear some side
walls of your tires, even Harleys lean on their side stand. Now that I’ve made
you hungry....
If you notice we have somehow carefully avoided fast food, and chain
restaurants. There are some good ones out there, but we want some original
food, some home cooked flavor, and some atmosphere, even if it is at an
airport. Fast food is only profitable if it is fast, you get it fast, you eat
it fast, others are waiting, I have even seen signs warning you that you have a
30 minute time limit in McDonald’s, and then leave fast. Never enjoying the
time spent out, or away. Great food doesn’t have to be a McSomething. Fast may
work at drag races, but fast is not for my food. Do you know where the most
dangerous place is on a Sunday after church? Try the lines at any grocery
store. Rude, disagreeable, impatient, all the things you weren’t in church, and
tell others you aren’t, you become after church. Works good in restaurants too,
I have seen good old brother so and so try to push his way to the front of many
a line, “I’m hungry!” What do you think the rest of us are here for,
entertainment? I hope you aren’t the floor show. Good time to exercise the
first shall be last, you can first at the end. So we see many lessons learned
at church, don’t ever make it out the door. But are known by those who don’t go
to church, who don’t like God, or better yet, don’t like God’s children-us. An
interviewer called Stickerman visits campuses, with Jesus stickers all over his
rubber suit, asking people questions about God. The answers may surprise you,
or maybe not. Seems most don’t hate God, they aren’t even upset with Him. But
most have had a bad time in church, and he finds that most don’t like Christians
because of the way they treat others. A lot of perception here, but in a time
where perception has become truth to many, how are you perceived? Are you
courteous? Do you tip that hard working single mom waitress? Is your car
covered in Jesus stickers as you cut me off on the freeway? Do you brag about
what a great Christian you are, but fail to brag about what a great God saved
you? Is your walk with Jesus like a fast food experience, get in, get out, and
repeat next week, if a better offer doesn’t come along? Do you order the daily
special, and hope it tastes good, if it fits your life? If Tripadvisor.com had
your church listed, would you recommend it? Do you approach God like you do
your eating, same old fast food, with nothing but fillers, when the real thing
is just blocks away? Where are you with Jesus, and is He invited to eat with
you?
If you had to give Him a description of you so He could meet you
for lunch, would He recognize you? Or would He have to ask, is your opinion of
yourself much different from what we see? Maybe ask those that serve you. The
waitress, your mechanic, the parts guy, the pastor who offers advice you won’t
take. What part of Jesus don’t they understand because of you? So many of
these chances are local, are you like Jesus not recognized in your own town?
And if you are, what would the reviewer say about you? Would you want to eat
with you? Careful, I may be the guy in the next pew.
A walk with God is just that, not a run, not a sprint. A
marathon, daily, so sit back and enjoy the meal. Enjoy the great service God
has given via His son. Be the exception, be the reason people want to visit
your church. Be the same guy after church you are in it, and if you are the
same as the guy rushing, it is not too late to change. Jesus is in the business
of it, great references too. And He knows the best places to eat, where the
portions fill you up, and each meal is a worship service of its own. From fast
food to mega meals, He has seen it all. So ask yourself, what of Jesus do
people see in you? That empty chair at your table just might be a chance to
share some love with a hurting person. Buy them a a meal, offer them dessert.
If you eat at the best places you don’t have to have it your way, you don’t have
to eat off the dollar menu, and you can end up likin’ it when you eat with
Jesus. Sometimes all without leaving your own home...Stick close to home, set
the example there, then eat at your Judea and outer lands. Great food in
Samaria, and other places to, spreading the gospel as you go, just like Jesus
tells us. So many choices, make mine Jesus. he buying, what’ll you have?
love with compassion,
Mike
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