Going off-road…the weekly 4×4

the weekly 4×4 is going to have a decidedly positive spin this week.   no thumbs down.   only thumbs up.   it was a really good week…no need to bring up the piddly negatives.

1.   made it to opening day  of the in and out burger in frisco.   it was nuts.   it was a three and a  half hour love fest  (or maybe  a love feast ) of transplanted californians now living in the great state.   hundreds in line enduring the nasty rain.   hundreds wasting gallons of gas idling in the drive thru.   easily 300-400 crammed into the dining area…squished like sardines…but sharing the joy of every number called and every ecstatic beneficiary of the grilled goodness.

2.   many locals question the over-the-top loyalty to in and out.   here’s my take:   it’s all about the intangible…the ethereal…the memory.   make no mistake.   it’s a great fast-food burger.   simple.   fresh.   cooked to order.   but in and out is more than that…especially to displaced socal homers.   walking into in and out is to be immediately transported back to a place in our past.   the sensual overload…smell,  sight,  taste and hearing  (the friendly workers are unlike anywhere else)…is pretty sweet.   and there’s still room in my heart for whataburger…

3.   speaking of socal,  the padres finally found their bats.    this past week,  the little friars scored 47 runs in six games…and batted .349 as a team.   i have not given up on this season.

4.   the farra living room has finally been completely repainted.   a bigger job…a much bigger job…than i intended.   we will be inviting friends back to our house soon.

5.   the iPad2 and i are becoming friends.   our uneasy courtship is smoothing out.   i have found two apps that have made my two most important weekly duties…sermon writing and blogging…much easier.   blogsy and quickoffice  are pretty amazing tools.   i can’t wait for proficiency.

6.   went to the los lonely boys  concert at the dallas house of blues on friday night.   they blew me away.   the talent of these guys is beyond my words.   at various times in the concert,  we were hearing stevie ray vaughn or santana or zz top or the stray cats or led zeppelin or straight tejano.   so cool.   on top of it all,  we had a surprise opening act:   the lukas nelson band…fronted by the son of the legendary willie nelson.   it was a great night with friends.

7.   logan rocked it again preaching this morning.   he has an amazing gift of story-telling for someone so young.   i will be taking him to task next sunday though.   you’ll just need to be there…

8.   it was so good to be able to sing the doxology…np style…again.   that song is full of memories for me.   and they have only gotten richer with being able to sing it again at this point in my life.   i’m not sure my mom would like the way we do it,  but that’s ok.

9.   five new families at np this morning.   wow.   i know it’s a pretty regular thing these days,  but i’m still blown away by it.

10.   i got up this morning and put on shorts for our services.   as i’m getting ready to leave,  wanda says,  “you’re wearing shorts to preach in this morning?”   i reply,  “i’m not preaching.”   what i should have said is,  “i’m a big boy.   i can wear anything i want to church on sunday mornings…even if i am preaching.”   mmm….after 38 years of doing this,  i’m still working at being a big boy.   sheesh.

11.   fuzzy’s tacos for lunch after services.   i gotta admit that their style of fish tacos are really growing on me.

12.   the north point summer bowling league started up tonight.   too much fun.

i’ll get back to some pretty solid  “thumbs down”  items next week,  for all you glass-is-half-empty slackers.