Category Archives: places

by | September 24, 2012 · 12:30 am

Anthony’s Appetite Gone Berzerk

All at Once

I have so much to do this week, it isn’t even funny. I am SOOO far behind in my seminary work, it will be a seminary miracle if I get it all done in time (and get a decent grade). Therefore, this will be the last post I publish this week.

So, instead of making a “Monday Monkey,” I am switching things up a bit and doing an expanded “Anthony’s Appetite.” Yep, in this post I am going to tell you about a bunch of stuff I have consumed. Then I can delete the pictures off my phone.

But Wait!

I don’t have to do it all in one, long post, do I? I could spread the culinary joy out over several posts and schedule them to post without me being here! Cool!

Ah, the wonders of modern technology.

Start With Coffee

Let’s start with a great place to have coffee and the coffee that they serve.

The Stone Cup Roasting Company is a great coffee bar in the North Shore Art district of Chattanooga (i.e., tree hugger land).

Believe it or not, folks, there are better places to have coffee than Starbucks. As a matter of fact, I would rather have a cup of instant coffee than a cup of Starbucks’ regular blend.

The Stone Cup is one of several good coffee places in Chattanooga. And like all the really good places, they roast their own beans, so Stone Cup’s coffee tastes different from other places (especially Starbucks).

French Press

I don’t know if you have ever had coffee made in a French press, but you need to. Here you can see that when I ordered a French press, they actually gave me my own press to watch as the timer crept toward 4 minutes.

Unlike filtered coffee, pressed coffee retains all the oils that otherwise get trapped in the filter. The result is a rich, flavorful beverage that is smooth and intense, but not any “stronger” than regular coffee. It just tastes better.

Espresso

Now, I have had several espressos at Starbucks and other places. This espresso was just plain wonderful. It was not bitter, but creamy and intoxicating.

And what’s more, the little cups that they serve their espresso in sure beats the little paper cups.

Let’s Visit

If you are ever in Chattanooga and have a few minutes to just sit and sip, call me up. We could go get a cup of joe at the Stone Cup. We could sit inside and look at original art, or go outside on the balcony and talk theology, legalism, or grace.

You can buy, of course.

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by | September 9, 2012 · 12:30 am

Republic of Moldova

New, but Old

Back in 1991 I spent about a month in Romania. It was during this time that civil unrest broke out in the little country of Moldova. To say the least, it was a little unnerving to be only 90 miles away from Russian Spetsnaz “peace keepers.”

It was in 1991 that tiny Moldova finally gained its independence from the Soviet Union. But Moldova has been traded back and forth for thousands of years between different tribes and nations. At one point Moldova was actually part of early Romania, but it was also controlled at different times by the Romans, the Huns, the Bulgarians, and the Mongols.

Opposite of Luxembourg

If you remember last week’s country, Luxembourg, you will remember that she is one of the most wealthy countries in the world (per capita). Well, if Luxembourg is top on the money list, Moldova is right at the bottom.

According to the European Parliament (via Wikipedia), Moldova is the poorest country in all of Europe in terms of GDP. And despite their economy growing in the last few years, the per capita GDP is only $2022.! To put that in perspective, the United States’ per capita GDP is $48,400, while Luxembourg’s $115,000! 20% of the population lives at or below the absolute poverty line of $2.15 a day.

Religious

According to one of the only sources I am using today, most of the people in Moldova are Christian (93.3%). The only problem with that number is that most are either Russian or Romanian Eastern Orthodox. It is said that the church is so affected by culture and national interests that professing atheists (0.4%) participate in religious activities simply because it’s the thing to do.

My concern is that there may be the ability to know the truth of Christ within the churches of Moldova, but do they? Is Christianity mostly a cultural institution, or do they really know Jesus?

It is not my intention to belittle the Orthodox Church in Moldova. But it makes me wonder: a country that forces all religious groups to register with the state doesn’t help me to believe that 93% of its citizens are filled with the Spirit.

Grace Awaits

Many times religious people find their hope of salvation in the keeping of tradition, the confessional, or prayers to saints in a candle-lit room. What they don’t understand is that Grace is calling out to them. Jesus wants to set them free from legalism and a cold, unevangelical faith.

I don’t know how many visits I have had to this blog by people in Moldova, but it can’t be more than a few. Yet, there has been at least one, so just pray that this site might spark a revival in such a poor and thirsty land.

And while you are praying, pray for the economic situation in Moldova.

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by | August 26, 2012 · 12:30 am

Slovenia

Narnia?

If you have ever read The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, then you should be able to imagine what a real Narnia would look like. In the fictional Narnia there were beaches, green countrysides, forests, and mountains. Essentially, there was just about every kind of natural beauty in one place, and from Cair Paravel one could see almost everything.

Well, I have never been to Slovenia, but from the pictures I have seen, and from all that I have recently read, this little European country could be the nearest to a real Narnia anyone could ever find. Just go to Slovenia’s official tourism website and look at all the pictures! They are absolutely beautiful!

And if you remember descriptions of Narnia, tell me, doesn’t this description of Slovenia sound almost like the imaginary paradise?

Slovenia is the only country in Europe that combines the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain and the Karst. The changing landscape is constantly surprising, time and again. You can have one eye on the sea, then look in the other direction and be surrounded by high mountains. Heading up into the forests, you can see the green plains below you. From upland meadows your view stretches into river gorges. This proximity of opposites and contrasts is a hallmark of the country. – from http://www.Slovenia.info

Real World

But no matter how beautiful Slovenia is, she is still a nation of people that live in the real world. Hidden amid all the beautiful scenery is a people that have been through many years of turmoil and governmental changes. As a matter of fact, it was only in 1991 that Slovenia officially gained its independence from the former Yugoslavia. Up until then it had always been under the control of somebody else.

However, according to the U.S. Department of State website, the Republic of Slovenia is now a “vibrant democracy” with democratic roots that go back over 1,000 years. Believe it or not, it is said that the way “Slovene farmers contractually consented to be governed by the Duke [of Carinthia] influenced Thomas Jefferson’s drafting of the Declaration of Independence.”

Unlike many small countries, Slovenia is not exactly poor. They are doing well with their economy and have good trading relations with the rest of the world.

Real Need

But Slovenia does have one need, if nothing else. Slovenia needs to hear about the freeing grace of Jesus Christ. The International Mission Board reported recently that in the capital city of Ljubljana (pop. 300,000) there is only one Baptist church. Most other churches are either Catholic or Orthodox, but there doesn’t exist much evidence of personal faith.

I have had a few hits on my blog from Slovenia, but I would love to see more. But even more than visits to my blogs, my prayer is that more people in Slovenia would echo the words of John 12:21, “Sir, we would see Jesus.”

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by | August 24, 2012 · 12:30 am

Anthony’s Appetite (Big Bob’s Bar-B-Q)

Bar-B-Q

I may have known in the past, but I have forgotten what Bar-B-Q stands for. I don’t know why it is spelled that way, or why other people spell it BBQ. Some people spell it out as Barbecue, but it’s all the same – good eat’n!

If you don’t know what BBQ is, then you may not be from the South…or West…or East…or anywhere animals are smoked and cooked and eaten with coleslaw and banana pudding. One thing’s for sure, if you have never eaten BBQ, you may not be American.

Decatur, Alabama

Not long ago we went to Decatur, Alabama, which is just a few miles southwest of Huntsville, the place with space and rocket museum. Decatur is also the home of Cooks Pest Control.

Back in the mid-90’s I worked for Cooks in Chattanooga, but had to train in Decatur for a month. While at the home office’s training facility, we were encouraged to go to Big Bob’s Bar-B-Q. We were told it was required of us, in order to be good employees, to eat one of Big Bob’s stuffed baked potatoes. We did, and I never forgot it.

That is why when I visited Decatur this time with my family, it was imperative that we go back and eat another potato. You, the reader, needed to hear about it.

Big Spud

Let me tell you, if you want to eat the best Bar-B-Q in the world, Big Bob’s is out to convince you theirs is it. If nothing else, they have the awards and the big-time recognition to back up their claims. But whether or not their BBQ is the best, they have a serious stuffed potato.

This huge potato comes with your choice of pulled pork, beef brisket, or chicken. Under that is cheese, sour cream, butter, and a few other goodies. Believe me, it is a meal and a half. Just don’t eat it if you are on a carb-free diet.

Overall

I won’t say that Big Bob’s is the best BBQ in the world, but it is pretty dang good. And if you want a potato that will hold a quarter of a pig, then Big Bob’s is a place you need to try at least once. You won’t regret it.

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by | August 11, 2012 · 9:55 pm

Late-Nite Saturday Rant

In the Dark

I’m sitting in the dark on an empty school bus, waiting for a high school football team to finish playing. I have 29% battery on my iPhone, and I want to read my real Bible, not an app.

So, since it is dark (28%, now), I will blog in the dark. At least until I get to 20%.

Things that Irritate

A lot of people have used their blogs to gripe about things they hate, or things that irritate them (27%). Therefore, because I just heard something that irritated me when I watched a video on Socialcam, I will share some of my dislikes. Why not?

…..the limited capabilities of WordPress’s smartphone app.

…..(26%) people that won’t sing a well-known song to the beat, but delay the lyrics in order to appear more spiritual (’cause it doesn’t make them sound better).

…..when there is a hole in one slice of bread and the jelly on my peanut butter and jelly sandwich leaks onto my hand.

…..(25%) mosquitoes.

…..cat hair in my throat (or any hair) that won’t wash down or cough up, but just sticks there.

…..a sunburn on my bald head.

…..(24%) no car charger for my phone while on a field trip.

…..reporters that ask to interview me, then distort the truth, making me look bad.

Oh great! The team is done. I’m cranking up the bus. I have light!

Going Home

Well, I now have 23% battery on my phone, but now it’s time to go home. I’ve got to make sure everything’s ready for the road.

Hope everybody goes to church somewhere this Sunday. You’re welcome to visit ours and hear me preach. If you do, that will NOT irritate me.

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by | August 6, 2012 · 12:03 am

Monday Monkey (#26) and the 300th Post!

Last week it was 20,000 views.

This week it is our

300th Post!

Yaaaaayyyyy!

And, to beat all, the 300th post on The Recovering Legalist is not going to be serious or controversial, but fun and educational. It’s a Monday Monkey video!

Vacation

This week my family and I went out of town for a couple of days. We went to Huntsville and Decatur, Alabama. While in Decatur we stayed at the Marriott Courtyard and had a half tank of gasoline stolen, ate barbecue, went to my old employer’s bug museum, and tried to work on several papers that need to be completed before week’s end.

Hey, for the record, I normally use iMovie to do my video, but then end of this video features a piece done on the Socialcam app.

Also, here’s a shout out and hello to Gage, a little boy we met in Cook’s Natural Science Museum. He was brave enough to have his picture made with a weird man and a monkey, but his little brother chickened out. And also for the record, his mom gave us permission to take the picture. Thank’s to the mom and granny persons 🙂

Also, on our way home, we drove by the U. S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.

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