Restaurant Review: Johnny Reb's Dixie Cafe (Hearne, Texas)

This past Sunday, She Who Must Be Obeyed and I were returning home from visiting my parents in south Texas. For lunch (or rather, Sunday dinner), we stopped in Hearne, Texas at Johnny Reb's Dixie Cafe. SWMBO was driving and made the dining choice. It must be stated here that each time we drive past this place, I mention that I would like to eat there sometime. Also, recently Texas Monthly magazine named the Dixie Cafe to its list of 40 best diners. When I saw that listing, I mentioned to SWMBO that I would like to try it. Each time I say I want to eat there, she tells me that I have already done so. I say I had not. She tried to prove me wrong and shame me by stopping there. She thought we would go in and I would recognize it. Alas, I did not.

Regardless of her disappointment, we stayed for lunch. It was more than worth it. The decor is a sort of eclectic Southern diner. It was about 1:45 on Sunday afternoon, but the place was remakably busy. I had a difficult time deciding what to order. The Sunday lunch specials were the cause of my difficulty. I really wanted to try the Chicken Fried Steak, and theirs is reportedly super. But it was Sunday afternoon. How could I not order the Roast Beef? This is a choice I would not regret. It was a generous portion of meat and mashed potatoes with brown gravy. I had a choice of sides, from which I ordered black-eyed peas. Add in a little Louisiana Hot Sauce for my peas and an unending supply of sweet tea and my meal was as near perfect as I could imagine.

Our server was friendly and attentive. When I asked for hot sauce, but specified that it was not to be Tabasco, she understood. When I asked for one more glass of sweet tea, but that it be in a to-go cup, she understood. SWMBO commented that it appeared I had found my soul-mate. I was pretty sure I was already dining with my soul-mate, although when she ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, I was beginning to doubt. Just kidding, Baby!

The Dixie Cafe was certainly a good value. We enjoyed a great meal for around $20 including tip. If you find yourself traveling through Hearne, Texas near meal time, I highly recommend Johnny Reb's Dixie Cafe. While I am certain this was my first time to eat here, I am sure it will not be my last.

LIFE Group

She Who Must Be Obeyed and I were talking about our small group at church. It is truly a great group. As we were talking, we realized that we have been leading our group for about five years. We took over for the previous leaders when they moved on to a pastoral position in another church. For most of the previous year, we had been sort of co-leading as he was finishing his seminary studies as well as working a full-time job. This is not the same group we began leading. This is true both literally and figuratively. Of the eight families in the group (including us), my wife and I are the only ones that were in the group back then.

We have seen a lot of changes in our group. Families have come and gone. We seem to be more stable than we have in a long time. There appears to be more unity within the group. Our discussions have been lively and insightful. We enjoy our time together around the table and around the Word of God. For the most part, we really do see ourselves as a family. In his book, The Lost Art of Disciple Making, LeRoy Eimes describes it this way:

When I was in high school, I worked in a bakery. Frequently we would make batches of frosting for cakes and chocolate donuts. I would take great lumps of broken chocolate, put them in a pan, and warm them over a low fire. The chocolate lumps would begin to melt, stick together, and finally blend into one pan full of melted chocolate.

That's what Christian fellowship is all about. Not a group of people in one building like marbles in a bag, but like lumps of chocolate that have blended together and become part of one another. This only happens through the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He slowly warms our hearts together in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Gal. 5:22-23).

There are changes afoot in our small group. It may or may not involve new members. Either Satan is trying to stir up something in our families or God is working in His own mysterious way. I don't know exactly what this thing is going to look like at the end. Or maybe there is no end. Maybe we will continue to grow and change. In another five years, there may be none of the same families. That will be alright as long as there is the same sense of melted chocolate. That is what I pray for.

For what it is worth, the group leader that left is back as part of the group. That has been a good change we have all enjoyed.

Have you experienced this type of fellowship? What do you think makes it happen or prevents it from happening? Share your experience with us.

It's a park, it's a sprinkler....it's a sprayground!

Today I had the distinct privilege of accompanying my son's first grade class on a field trip to Faulkner Park's Sprayground! What is a sprayground you may be asking yourself? In this particular instance it is a playground that is delightfully cool and wet! There are a variety of sprinklers and sprayers on a nice concrete surface that has been treated to not be too slippery. There are some nice benches around the periphery that will keep Mom and Dad in a fine mist but not soaking.
Right beside the sprayground is a regular playground. There is a nice soft wood chip base to cushion those inevitable falls. There are some unusual play things on this playground in addition to the usual swings and slide. There is a large pole with plasticized cables coming off of it that make it look like a spider web - very cool to climb! There are also some seats that you sit on and they use your weight to gain momentum as you spin!
The park is located off of South Broadway in Tyler at Faulkner Park. It is clean, there are limited picnic tables and relatively spacious parking (don't try to turn around a full size school bus in there though - not easy!). A few words of caution - there are only porta-potties and the closest real bathrooms are a real hike (or a short drive) to the tennis complex. Also, it can be very busy and crowded - today for example there were at least 3 different schools having field trips, a birthday party and several families enjoying the beautiful weather!
If you need a free, clean place to cool off this summer - check out the sprayground! It's a great thing about Tyler!

Book Review: Character Makes a Difference

Character Makes a Difference is a 2007 release by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. It is a re-release of 1997's Character is the Issue, along with selected chapters of Living Beyond Your Lifetime from 2000. It appears to have been released in preparation for Gov. Huckabee's unsuccessful run for the Presidency. While that may (or may not) have been the reason for the book, that is not what it is about.

Character is neatly divided into three sections: "Character in the Furnace", "The Need for Character", and "Selected Speeches & Commentary". In the first section, Mr. Huckabee describes his rise to the governor's office. Born and raised in rural Arkansas, he spent his life as a devout Southern Baptist. He attended Ouachita Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He pastored two churches in Arkansas before he felt God leading him into the world of politics. When then-Governor Bill Clinton was elected President in 1992, Lieutenant Governor Jim Guy Tucker became governor. Mike Huckabee was elected as the Republican Lieutenant Governor in a Democratic state. During the Whitewater scandal, Gov. Tucker was convicted and resigned his office allowing Huckabee to assume the office. But it wasn't really that simple. Tucker had committed to resign the office, but changed his mind. Mr. Huckabee describes the support he received from a Democrat legislature and the general public.

The second section focuses on "why character is important, how we know there are absolutes of good and bad character, and the consequences of surrendering those absolutes to the champions of relativism." (from the introduction) Mr. Huckabee describes and illustrates faith in a number of ways, all of them in his typical folksy manner. He clearly articulates his faith and and the object of that faith is clearly identified as Christ and his Word.

The third section is a short collection of some of his speeches and commentary from his days as governor of Arkansas. The first is the text of a speech that was never delivered. It was prepared to be delivered in a televised address just after being sworn in as governor. This was before Gov. Tucker decided not to resign. The next was an improptu speech before the state General Assembly before Tucker actually did resign. The third is an unscripted televised address given in place of the first speech. In it, Gov. Tucker was given the ultimatum to resign or face impeachment. Almost immediately, Tucker's resignation was delivered to the legislature. The fourth speech is the televised speech after being sworn in as governor. The final address was given to the 2004 National Forum on Education Policy. In this speech, Gov. Huckabee addresses the need for an arts education for every child in our schools.

This book is an easy read. It took me a total of about three to four hours to complete all 227 pages. Just because it is easy doesn't mean it isn't interesting or valuable. If you, like me, are already an admirer and fan of Mike Huckabee, this book will give you additional insight into the way he conducts himself. If you don't know much about him, it will help you understand his values and character. I can wholeheartedly recommend Character Makes a Difference.

Last Chance to Nominate!

Coming in about a week is the first episode of "This Show Bites!" Next week, my crack producer Todd and I will be going out to try your top three nominations. This is your last chance to get your nominations in. Remember, this episode is all about. . .

APPETIZERS!

The rules for this episode are simple:
1. Decide on a restaurant appetizer for me to try. It can be from any restaurant in the Tyler area. It can be your favorite or it can be one that you think looks interesting but are afraid to try. It cannot be a sampler platter; it must be a single appetizer item.
2. You must email your nomination directly to me. If you leave it as a comment, I will ask you to resubmit it in email form. You must send it to wjcollier3 (at) gmail.com. (replace (at) with @.)

I will compile the nominations and try the top three. When the video is released, it will be available here and in a variety of other places.