America has a love affair with food! Today I am in Memphis, Tennessee. I am wrapping up a week-long study break. My morning walks take me along a two-mile stretch of highway in Cordova, a community on the northeast side of town. This strip of asphalt is short on sidewalks, but long on restaurants. How many restaurants are there? I'm glad you asked! Yes, I did count!
My apologies if you don't like lists, but if you read to the end you will discover that there is a message in this madness:
- Sonic
- Popeye’s
- KFC
- Red Robin
- Chili’s Grill & Bar Restaurant
- Bonefish Grill
- Rain Premier Sushi Bar and Bistro
- Thai Bistro
- Schnucks Express Food & Fuel
- Circle K at the Shell Station
- Outback
- I-Hop
- Johnny Brusco’s Pizza and Subs
- Passage to India Restaurant and Grocery
- Scales Cafes: Farm-raised catfish and whole foods smoothie (interesting combination!)
- Green Bamboo Vietnamese Restaurant
- Snappy Tomato Pizza
- My Favorite Place Mexican Restaurants
- Taco Bell
- Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors
- Papa John’s
- Pizza Hut
- Wendy’s
- Panera Bread
- Kroger Supermarket
- McDonald’s
- Hop-In Convenience Store at the Exxon Station
- Circle-K Gas Station and Convenience Store
- Wal-Mart Supercenter (grocery store and a McDonald's)
- Super Target (grocery store and Tar jay Cafe :))
- Rafferty’s
- Starbucks Coffee
- Yogurt Mountain
- Lenny’s Sub Shop
- Moe’s Southwest Grill
REST YOUR EYES HERE
- TJ Mulligan’s
- Vanton Juice Bar and Smoothie
- Pizza Hut
- Villa Castrioti Pizza and Restaurant
- Chang’s Bubble Tea Café Asian Cuisine
- Osaka’s Japanese Cuisine
- Sheridan’s Frozen Custard (made fresh daily)
- Humdingers Grilled Fish & Piri Piri Chicken
- Carnival food
- Rain Premier Sushi Bar and Bistro
- Fulin Chinese Restaurant
- Domino’s Pizza
- Subway
- America’s Incredible Pizza Company
- Abner’s Famous Chicken Tenders
- Charlie’s Restaurant
- Starbucks Coffee (second one)
Perhaps you are wondering, "What's with this fascination with food?" I have been asking myself that question. Maybe it was the fact I ate three big meals the day before. Maybe it is because food so often occupies my thoughts. Maybe it is because I really don't like to fast. Maybe it is all of that and this: God was using that early morning jaunt past the eateries to help me reflect on the appetite He wants me to have. I remembered Jesus' words from Matthew's gospel:
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:1-4 ESV)
Years ago, I was challenged by Adrian Rogers to adopt this motto for my life: "No Bible. No Breakfast." The implication is obvious. Contrary to popular opinion, breakfast IS NOT the most important meal of the day. Feasting on the Word of God is. The psalmist reminds us, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103 ESV).
Let's eat!
Click here if you are looking for a place to take your first bite today. It is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. What is one of yours?