Top Ten Tuesdays

I love breakfast foods. They're pretty much the best.

Top 10 places to get breakfast in Ann Arbor (that I've personally visited)

10. Denny's
I'm from New Jersey, where we have a family-owned diner every few blocks. Denny's is NOT a real diner. But it does have ridiculous deals and they're open 24/7 AND can seat a lot of people at once. Accessibility puts Denny's in the top 10.

9. Panera
I always thought Panera was just too fancy to be a bagel store - they sell soup, salads, sandwiches, pasta... doesn't quite fit in as a true breakfast place. But the free WiFi and the cozy places to sit in and contemplate life while munching on one of those crazy Cinammon Sugar-coated bagels can be nice in the morning.

8. Breugger's Bagels
This was the standard for me all throughout undergrad. Especially on Sunday mornings when we used to wake up a lot earlier to set up for church, everyone was munching on these bagels. It's been there before Panera. It's open early and closes early, just like a bagel shop should. And they primarily serve bagels, which is appropriate and simple. I like that.

7. Mr.Greek's
A bit lower on the list because their portion size went down and prices went up over the years. Still decent though. Go for the Hercules breakfast, it's got everything you want in a breakfast.

6. McDonald's
I have a special place in my heart for "Mickey D's" breakfasts. I travel(ed) a lot and a McDonald's Big Breakfast was comfort food for the road. Good memories associated with this one. And McGriddles are pure awesomeness. Seriously.

5. Fleetwood Mac
Kind of a dirty, dingy place with greasy borderline-questionable breakfast food. Now THAT's a DINER! First time there was during my freshman year. My Jersey friend and I hiked over in the bitter cold because we were having diner-withdrawal. Waitress comes up, "Can I take your order? ACHOOO!!" Snot and boogers EVERYWHERE. We promptly ordered and devoured the hippie hash. Glorious.

4. Selma Cafe
Although I haven't been here yet from what I hear, it's exactly my kind of deal. A family opens up their Ann Arbor home on Friday mornings where guest chefs cook breakfasts for guests. Run by the family and a small army of volunteers, you get to rub shoulders with Ann Arborites, eat a home-cooked meal in... a home... and support local farms (all fresh, locally grown ingredients) and local businesses. It's the "real deal". This place is on my To Visit list for sure.

3. Angelo's
Mainstay of Ann Arbor. Classic. Good service, just the right amount of hustle-bustle - just the right kind of breakfast atmosphere. Get an omelet and their freshly baked raisin bread. Hugely satisfying.

2. Afternoon Delight
Discovered this little guy while working security across the street at the public library. Wandered over for lunch one day and had a milkshake. Brought ALL the boys to the yard. Get the meat boule. Four different kinds of meat scrambled into eggs, dripping with cheese all jammed into a cantaloupe-sized bread bowl. It'll put some hair on your chest.

1. My apartment
I always have my fridge stocked with eggs, sausage, cheese, milk, bread for toast, and cereal. I can have breakfast whenever I want in whatever attire I choose. And I can even choose to pass out on a full stomach afterwards on my comfortable couch. There's no place like home.

What's your favorite breakfast place?

Follow-up on previous post coming in next post!

"But my heart's not in it"

I've been saying and hearing this phrase over and over again:

"Yea, I would and I know it's good for me, but my heart is not in it."

That, friends, is an excuse. What this phrase actually means is simply "Nah, I don't feel like it. Leave me alone. I do what I want."


There's nothing wrong with being honest and straight up. However, our "honesty" should not serve as an excuse to not do what is right, good, necessary.

Obeying and following God is not primarily dependent on how we feel at the moment or whether or not our "heart" is in it.

This attitude implies that I am the Master in my relationship with God. That God's will and work needs to wait on how I feel and whether or not I feel happy enough, satisfied enough, and "ready enough". In my selfishness, I am demanding that God wait and serve me and that I dictate when and how things will get done.

Imagine, a servant having this attitude towards his master: "Yea, master, I hear you. And I know what you're asking and requiring of me. But I don't feel like it at the moment. My heart is not really into the work right now. And I want to do your work 'wholeheartedly'. So, maybe later. Thanks for understanding. I'll be in my room to be alone now. I'll come back when I feel like I'm more into it."

...

So, if I know that by saying, "my heart is not in it" I may be just attempting to excuse myself from doing what's good, right, and needed, then how should I approach all this? Isn't it true that there will be many times where I don't feel like doing something? And as a Christ-follower I'm commanded to rejoice always, trust God wholeheartedly, and love God - aren't those "heart" issues? Won't I be one of those hypocrites offering only lip-service to God if my heart is not in it but I keep doing things anyway?

I have to go to work now, more on this later.
Stay sharp. ;)