My old boss at Coke, Terry Young, had this whole calorie thing figured out years ago. If you had a TAB with lunch, the calories you saved by drinking a diet soda could be used other places, like extra fries or "just make that cheeseburger a double, please." And since we have this new law which shows the caloric content of all foods eaten at your favorite restaurant, you can make the numbers work for you. And once again, have the government prove that we know better what we want without their help.
One of the first surprises came by now being told that salads have as many calories as burgers. For years those of you who have suffered by eating a salad, and acting like you were someone special while passing judgment on the burger crowd, now are finally exposed. Looking at menus recently, I find burgers and salads about the same in calorie content, with the edge going to burgers in the flavor category. And some salads, the better tasting ones, have more. And I can see it now, burger sales increase, while salad intake decreases, and we all feel much better about what we eat. Maybe the government is really here to help us after all!
A few years back, we stopped at a Steak and Shake-our favorite chain in the Midwest. Once we see them in Oklahoma, we know we are on the edge of junk food civilization, and that White Castle, Primonti's, and sub shops are all within reach of our caloric desires. But this time, we were going to outsmart them, by going to their light menu. Instead of ice cream in the shake, I had the low calorie version. Which by the way was pretty good, until I found out I had saved a whopping 60 calories by going light. And light on calories also meant light on flavor-why do the best things that taste so good have so many calories? There was no way the light shake was worth the 60 calorie sacrifice-I was ready for my next visit. Think I'll splurge and have a Diet Coke with it!
Now that we are armed with all this worthy knowledge, we know what any school kid has known for years-it's about the portions. Eat smaller ones, but eat them more often. Look at the Nutrisystem portions-good food, tastes good, but they are child sized. Still hungry, eat a rice cake. Just don't have a large salad with it. Fill up on water, still the best diet drink, unless you live in So Cal with our pool tasting, non-refresher diet drink, and feel good about yourself. And feel less guilty about the Hershey bar you eat before falling asleep to congratulate yourself on your caloric discipline. And wake up hungry the next morning, and start all over. Let's see, how many calories are there in Trix?
I know people who base their God intake the same way. I went Sunday, so I am free to indulge as I want the rest of the week. And many do, but suffer. For like milkshakes and Big Macs, once you get a taste for God, nothing else satisfies. You want the real thing, and in the biggest portions you can get. And I know guys who are out 3-4 nights a week at church activities. For unlike our food intake, you cannot get enough God in you. Fill yourself on manna today, and you are still hungry for it tomorrow. For knowing Jesus is like finding a new favorite restaurant, and you have to go through the entire menu a few times before you settle on your favorite. Let's see, I'll have some Revelation today, Psalms for dessert, and finish it off with prayer while falling asleep. Wake me up to the gospels, and keep me nourished during the day by Proverbs. Hey, and I'm feeling really hungry today, bring on a portion of Leviticus. Let's live it up!
Feed the inner man, and you will find you are also feeding the outer man. And before they add laws about scriptural intake, get all you can. For we are one of the last vestiges of Bible reading freedom in the world. That big meal called church you pass up, ask people in Egypt, Iran, Sudan, China, India, and other countries-where Bibles and Christians are against the law, how much they would love to share a meal of scripture with you. So enjoy much, and enjoy often. No laws, if any, give you the freedom of choice that God does.
So get out and feed at the church of your choice. Make mine big portions of Jesus mixed with love. Eaten with lots of my friends, with singing and lots of fun. For like most of us, we don't care about the calories, only the experience and the taste. And nowhere but Jesus will you ever be filled!
Maybe that was why Jesus was always feeding large crowds-He liked the food and the people! And His portions were always the right size! SUPERSIZED!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
