Category: Texas (Page 1 of 8)

We’re Number Two!

According to the latest numbers from Beverage Digest, Dr Pepper is now fractionally ahead of Pepsi at 8.3% of the U.S. soda market share, making the national soda of Texas the number two most popular soda in the country. First time ever.

To celebrate, I suggest a Creamy Coconut Dr Pepper at 10, a Whataburger Dr Pepper Shake at 2, and an ice-cold original Dr Pepper at 4.

Peace,

Allan

Oh What a Foretaste of Glory Divine!

No one knows the time or the day. It happens in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye. One minute you’re laboring over the final pages of Sunday’s sermon and the next minute your head is spinning with the completely unexpected announcement that Blue Bell Ice Cream and Dr Pepper have teamed up to bring us Blue Bell Dr Pepper Float.

Yes. Let those words wash over you and transform everything you thought you knew about God’s plans for our world.

Blue Bell and Dr Pepper together in the same gold-rimmed carton. How can this be? Yet, at the same time, what took them so long?

This is an act of sacred beauty. A foretaste of the holy coming together of heaven and earth. We are a blessed people and highly favored by God. He has seen fit to combine the best ice-cream in the country with the 23 flavors of the first and best soft drink in the country, and it could only happen in our great Republic.

Today is my monthly lunch and prayer time with my pastor friends at First Baptist, First Pres, and First Methodist. I found it very difficult to talk about school bond elections, Bible translations, and church polity while my brain was locked in on Blue Bell Dr Pepper float. Will we have it here in Midland? Am I driving to Lubbock tonight?

As soon as lunch was over, I rushed over to HEB and there it was – a dozen half-gallons gleaming from the center of the frozen display case. And two of ’em were mine!

I walked into the church offices and excitedly declared an ice-cream party in the break room. Styrofoam bowls and plastic spoons, an ice scoop instead of an ice-cream scoop – it was okay, we made it work. Those of us who love Dr Pepper were blown away. Yes, it does taste exactly like a Dr Pepper float. Yes, it isĀ  authentic. Yes, they did it right. Those among us who do not love Dr Pepper were less impressed. Philistines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cory had the beautiful idea of getting some ice cold DP out of the break room fridge and pouring it over the Dr Pepper float ice-cream to make a Dr Pepper Float Float. And, yes, we did. Certainly.

I am thankful to live in a such a place as Texas. I am mindful of those less fortunate who live in places like Illinois or Connecticut or Oklahoma. Blue Bell Dr Pepper Float is a divine glimpse of the promised feast. We’re a little closer to heaven, friends, than we were this time yesterday.

Peace,

Allan

An Independent Attitude

Happy Texas Independence Day! Eat some tacos, listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan from this 1983 performance in our state’s capital, and sign all your emails today with “Victory or Death!”

You need to be wearing your Texas socks today. If you don’t own a pair of Texas socks, you need to order your Texas socks today. These are mine. Where are yours?

You can also reflect on these words from the Texas Declaration of Independence, penned by George Childress and signed by all 59 delegates to the emergency convention in Washington on the Brazos on this date 187 years ago:

“Nations, as well as individuals, are amenable for their acts to the public opinion of mankind. A statement of a part of our grievances is therefore submitted to an impartial world, in justification of the hazardous but unavoidable step now taken, of severing our political connection with the Mexican people, and assuming an independent attitude among the nations of the earth…

We, therefore, the delegates with plenary powers of the people of Texas, in solemn convention assembled, appealing to a candid world for the necessities of our condition, do hereby resolve and declare, that our political connection with the Mexican nation has forever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully vested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations; and, conscious of the rectitude of our intentions, we fearlessly and confidently commit the issue to the decision of the Supreme arbiter of the destinies of nations.”

And, finally, take a look at this list of more colorful Texas sayings than you can shake a stick at. Might as well, can’t dance.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/more-colorful-texas-sayings-than-you-can-shake-a-stick-at/

Peace,

Allan

Happy San Jacinto Day

It was 186 years ago today that the Republic of Texas secured its independence from Mexico at San Jacinto. Celebrate responsibly with tacos or barbecue (with a Dr Pepper, of course) or Stevie Ray Vaughan or Willie Nelson or Bernie or Lonesome Dove or anything else that similarly reminds you of how grateful you are to live in this great land with all these great people. You might also think good thoughts for the Dallas Mavericks.

Luka, be careful.
Go Mavs.

Allan

Happy San Jacinto Day!

One hundred eighty five years ago today, the Texas Army was camped together in the woods, protected by the rising ground where Buffalo Bayou meets the San Jacinto River. At 3:30 that afternoon, April 21, 1836, General Sam Houston addressed his troops:

“Rally to the standard and be no longer the scoff of mercenary tongues! Be men! Be free men, that your children may bless their father’s name!”

The Texans attacked Santa Anna’s Mexican forces and routed the enemy in an historic battle that lasted only 18-minutes, securing a brief but glorious independence for the Republic of Texas.

Happy San Jacinto Day!

Celebrate accordingly.

Allan

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