Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too.
1) McDonald’s French Fries
I am old enough and lucid enough to remember when McDonald’s cooked their fries in beef tallow, and anyone who was there knows that nothing in the fast food world will ever top those fries. That being said, fresh hot McDonalds fries are still at the top of the fast food heap. They still deliver salty, fatty starch in a crispy, light package–and that is, in fact, a recipe for happiness. They are so bad for you as to be a genuine comfort food; when one decides to indulge it is a proper indulgence. And we all need those.
2) Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Changeby Paul Tripp
I read this book years ago at the recommendation of a mentor of mine. I think it was the first of Paul Tripp’s books I read. And at the time I thought it was good, but not formative. (Granted, I thought a lot of ignorant things years ago.) What I have come to realize in the years since is that segments of this book have reframed my faith and my prayer life. This week one particular section is helping–Tripp writes about human responsibilities vs. human concerns. The first are the things God has called us to handle. The second are things we care deeply about but are not called to handle. We take action on our responsibilities and we entrust our concerns to God. And when we get this order of things confused we end up overwhelmed, anxious, angry, and feeling impotent. This week, as I have faced some frustrating and overwhelming issues, that paradigm has helped me respond wisely and trust God more deeply. And the book is chock full of such wisdom. It is a treasure.
3) The Triple Option
Let me be very clear: I do not mean the run-pass-option so prevalent in modern football. I mean the old school, tight formation, fullback inclusive, mobile quarterback engineered triple option. I mean the Nebraska Football steamrolling its way through the 80s and 90s triple option. I was watching Air Force Academy’s football team play recently, and it was an absolute pleasure. It was nostalgic, but more than that it was beautiful football–execution, spacing, timing, all of it. And I was reminded that the triple option is a great equalizer. A smaller, less talented team can keep a better team on its heels by running this offense effectively. It made me miss the days when a short yardage play was the domain of a neck-rolled fullback instead of a tush-pushed quarterback. For your enjoyment, here is a highlight reel of TOmy Frazier, the mid-90s Nebraska QB who was one of the most dominant players to ever run this offense.