You never ask the girl behind the desk “where is a good place to eat?” You
may be directed to the coffee shop, so we ask, “if you could go anywhere to eat,
where would it be?” And as their eyes light up, the menu changes for the
better. You may be a stranger in a strange town, with the lights from a chain
beckoning you to feel at home, but you aren’t or you would be at home. So why
eat the same things on the road as at home? Which brings us to local
restaurants we have eaten at, wishing they were chains or at least in So Cal.
Nothing good ever comes to San Diego, seems they all stop at the county line.
While many have already stopped at the state line. But here are a few that will
make us ride out of way for a meal.
If in Bartlesville, Eggbert’s is the breakfast place. Not fancy, looks
like an old Coco’s, but the cinnamon roll pancake is to die for, not so sure it
isn’t illegal. Image a full size pancake, not the kid size at IHOP, with swirls
of cinnamon and topped with icing. Makes my teeth hurt thinking about it. But
for the best bacon, eggs, and hash browns it is the Durango Diner in Durango,
make sure to sit at the counter and watch Gary do his thing with the spatula.
He has for almost 40 years now...
While looking for dinner in Gettysburg, the places on the circle were full
except for one, so going against logic we ate there, and had the meal of trip.
The Pub and Restaurant was just filling up and the timing was right. Incredible
food, I had some Cajun dish based on Jumbalaya with pasta, so huge I didn’t
think I would finish. Great waitress, and fair price. Worth a trip back,
battlefields optional. If you are asked “red or green?” it must be New Mexico,
in Albuquerque it means Monroe’s. But better yet in Santa Fe it is Los Amigos,
in an old house off the main road. Finished off with a sopapilla as big as the
plate and hot, the perfect antidote for the green chile cheese burger. Still
not sure, “say Christmas,” a mixture of red and green. But what about lunch on
the road?
We try to frequent the local chains, and eat the specialty. If there is a
Culver’s in sight, Theresa will find it. Great burgers with crinkle cut fries,
but it is the concrete you save room for. Also Braum’s makes a great burger
combo for $5.89 with a shake, read milk shake. They are a dairy store after
all. But when eating is the theme of the day or trip, you cannot beat Das
Essenhaus in Middlebury, Indiana. On the way to somewhere, it is family style,
Amish food at its best, and served cafeteria style. Roast beef, chicken, pork
roast, real mashies and dressing, fresh veggies, and over 20 feet of a second
trip back. The $12.99 all you can eat lunch of the year, take your time,
choose well, and eat lots. Then take a wagon ride to work it off.....so when
given the chance, travel nationally, but eat locally. You will never be
homesick again. Ride to eat and eat to ride takes on a whole new attitude....of
course you knew that already.
Theses temples to great eating should never be confused with the temples
that Jesus lives in, our bodies. When we are saved his spirit takes up
residence within us, and many alternative temples can compete for his
attention. Some temples come in the form of cars and motorcycles, some on a
large screen, some fitting the body we live in, and others yet in the form of
drugs or alcohol. Not all forms of idolatry are in the form of other gods, but
can take the place of God in our hearts and life. While some choose to live a
life of luxury without considering the things of the spirit, some live a life of
legalism, afraid to eat or drink anything, less a dietary law or custom is eaten
where forbidden. When anything controls us and our pocket book, our mind, our
attitude or actions, it it’s the primary guiding force in our lives. Some live
in homes that own them, the mortgage bigger than their ego, and becomes a
prison. Some have to have the fastest car or motorcycle, as one man explained
to me last week, every year he gets a new bike. Taking a huge hit on each old
one sold. Fashion and music go in and out of style, do you really need tennis,
running, walking, workout, and casual shoes that we used to just call sneakers?
We all give in to something, can we say the same about Jesus? Pause as the
crowd just got smaller and quieter....
God wants you to have nice things, just not put them above or before him.
Yet some live poor but not humbly, thinking it pleases God. Why would I want to
be poor and destitute when God offers me the best? Some still brag on what they
have done, while others brag on what they haven’t done. Do any of us brag on
what Jesus has done? On what his spirit is doing within us? You see some
choose to act locally, in church like Christians, but are a different person
outside the building. Jesus operates 24/7, we are to act the same outside as we
do inside, which tells us a lot about what is inside us, and who is calling the
shots. Maybe a look at your check book is more than you want see and admit.
Idolatry is more than a product, more than an action, it is an attitude. Does
your attitude reflect Jesus? Know that things are not bad in themselves, but
when they lure you into more involvement of them they become idols. You have a
new god, a new master, and new love and you may not realize it. One that leads
you into sin and destruction rather than saving you from it. Tough calls
sometimes, but remember Jesus has given you his spirit so you know. Do nothing
form selfishness, but think of others and how it affects them too. The first
being your witness of Christ. You know the urge, we have all been there. But
do we trust the spirit more?
Maybe it is explained best as a friend who drives over the road trucks
did. While on a ride with him, he passed by a diner and we went back. He told
us he always wanted to stop there, and when I asked him “is the food good?”
truckers are supposed to know all the best places to eat, he shook his head no.
Didn’t matter. The lot was big enough to park his semi in. So maybe the
truckers don’t know the best places to eat after all...but you can have the best
in Christ when trusting and traveling with him. Jesus spent his entire ministry
on the road, he surely knew the best places to eat. Consider this, he fed the
5000, left them with enough for the next day to remember what he did, and how,
what about all the other daily meals with the apostles? He remembered them at
the in between meals too, can we say we remember him in the in between meals?
By his hand we must be fed, give us Lord your daily bread.
Now on the subject of Pop Tarts....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com