7.16.2006

Weekend recap and restaurant review: My new best place for pizza and Arab Christian testimony

Although the weather is sweltering, the weekend went well.

I ran two days in a row. I haven't done that in a while.

I hope to get back to a regular running schedule this summer. With travel and other commitments, I have been skipping the training. I want to run a couple races in August or September and attempt to convince other folks to run a race too.

The last race I ran was over two years ago. This evening I ran with the two lovely ladies Roz and Sandra from Christ Church.

On Saturday, for my part-time job I got an opportunity to work with the brain injury group members.

We planned the membership's next outings for the months of November 2006 through February 2007. Some of the highlighted suggestions include: Bo Diddley concert, a visit to Dave & Buster's, and Chocolate Lover's Festival in Fairfax.

After the planning meeting, we decided to stop by this place. I was told by my co-worker that it was a family-owned business, where the steak and cheese subs were excellent. When I looked at the counter, I saw several great looking pies. I finally ordered a slice of mushroom and pepperoni pizza.


Bellissimo!

You wouldn't think that I would go so ape over a piece of pie, but I did. Pizzas are not one of my favorite Italian food items. (And I liiiikkke Italian food.) I stole a couple pieces of Matt's Steak Fajita pie. (Of course, he didn't mind.) That was great, too.


The prices are quite reasonable. Check out the Washingtonian Magazine review here.

Funny thing, as we departed, our folks bought more food to go. And, yes, I plan to return.


Tonight, I attended a service at the Arabic Baptist Church on Massachusetts Ave. An evangelist/pastor from Lebanon and his wife came to visit the church. The service was in Arabic, and they sang Arabic hymns and gospel songs.

Fortunate for me, they had a translator.

His wife Tamar, yes, I was surprised to hear that Old Testament name, gave her testimony at the beginning of the service. She was a former model in Lebanon and raised as a Christian in an Orthodox family.

She did not have a relationship with Jesus at that time, but she knew something was missing although she had successful husband, a popular singer in their native country. She had a great modeling career, which took her to different parts of the world, and they had two children.

She got saved by an encounter with a born-again business owner in the print business. She was invited to attend a church, but she didn't go. Her husband instead attend the service and said that this is what is missing from their lives. Eventually, she attended the church service, and, when the pastor gave an alter call for those who wanted Jesus, she walked up. Of course, I'm giving a synopsis, but the congregation just wept.

The gospel songs, all spoken in Arabic, were absolutely beautiful. They had a Middle Eastern rhythm to the songs. They reminded me of Klezmer music. The visiting evangelist sang songs from his new CD and gave a sermon to the 80 or 90 Arabic listening audience.

Unfortunately, I left early due to a another appointment, but I will go back.

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