I took my children to see the latest Dreamworks animated adventure ‘Over the hedge’ on Saturday. At one point a racoon is introducing a group of forest animals to the delights of urban living – he takes them on a tour of food.

“They always got food with them. We eat to live - these guys live to eat! Let me how you what I'm talking about! The human mouth is called a 'piehole', the human being is called a 'couch potato'. That is a device to summon food (points to a telephone). That is one of the many voices of food (Pizza restaurant responds). That is the portal for the passing of food (front door). That is one of the many food transportation vehicles (Pizza delivery moped). Humans bring the food, take the food, ship the food, they drive food, they wear the food!

That gets the food hot! (Points to microwave) That keeps the food cold! (Points to fridge) That, I'm not sure what that is (points to whipped cream in a spray can) . Well, what do you know? Food! That is the altar where they worship food! (Shows a family saying ‘grace’) That's what they eat when they've eaten too much food! (Shows a glass of Alka-Seltzer) that gets rid of the guilt so they can eat more food (points to an exercise bike)! Food! Food! Food! Food! foooood! So, you think they have enough? Well, they don't. For humans, enough is never enough! and what do they do with the stuff they don't eat? They put it in gleaming silver cans, just for us! Dig in!”

I think it speaks for itself and needs no further comment but for those who need a bit of a nudge try the following from Isaiah 58:6-10

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. "

Yours set apart for Jesus

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