I can remember them all too well - those rare trips to Riverdale, Georgia that we periodically took as a family when I was a child. Whenever these trips did occur, oh, how my sister and I begged to go either to McDonald’s or to Burger King to get a hamburger and fries.
Now, if that sounds strange, remember that back in the day (the late 1960s and early 1970s), not every little town in America had fast food franchises. Of course, as the industry grew across our nation, my hometown would eventually get each of these restaurants, though this was not until years later. So, for us, it was quite a treat to visit an adjacent county seat town and experience fast food.
Of course, part of our desire was fueled by the explosion of marketing in that same time period. To this very day, I can still sing the radio and television jingles in my head with ease.
McDonald’s Big Mac Burger was celebrated in a classic commercial with the catchy little verse: “Two all-beef patties, special, lettuce cheese, pickles, onion, on a sesame seed bun!” Not to be out done, Burger King came out with its own memorable little ditty: “Have it your way! Have it your way! Hold the pickle; hold the lettuce; special orders don’t upset us. All we ask is that you let us serve it your way!”
Perhaps it is because of these very commercials that so many people in my generation know the ingredients of some of the nation’s leading hamburgers. And yet, according to an article I have in my files, it seems as if more people remember the ingredients of America's favorite hamburgers than remember the ingredients of America's favorite book – the Holy Bible.
A few years ago, a re-make of the classic 1959 Hollywood movie, The Ten Commandments, was released. Coinciding with this event, Kelton Research conducted a poll of 1,000 people to determine basic knowledge of the actual Ten Commandments. The results were distressing to say the least.
Eighty percent of those polled knew that a Big Mac had two all-beef patties and 62 percent knew that it had pickles. But less than 50 percent could remember even seven of the actual Ten Commandments as found in the Bible.
Bu there was more. Further polling of random individuals on the street only added to heartbreak. When questioned about knowledge of the Ten Commandments versus knowledge of popular culture, most people polled could easily remember the names of all four of the Beatles rock group, but a great many could not even remember one single commandment. Ouch!
In addition to the Ten Commandments, The Bible also contains a little known but intriguing passage about the prophet Ezekiel. Chapters 2, verse 9 down to chapter 3, verse 4 of his eponymous Old Testament work contain this story:
9Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words… 1And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. 4He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.
Little wonder, then, that the testimony of another Old Testament Prophet, Jeremiah (in chapter 15, verse 16 of his own work), was:
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”
Interesting, the name Ezekiel means "God strengthens" and the name Jeremiah means "God is high up". Thus, each man bore the name of God. And there you have it. God's commandment to those who bore His name was this: "Eat My Words!"
As Christians, we also bear the name of the God. Specifically, we bear the name of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we have also been commanded to consume the Word of God.
For it was Jesus, Himself, according to the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4, verse 4, Who told us that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! Therefore, just as was the case for the Prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah, it behooves us to consume as much of the Word of God as we can possible digest! Our spiritual life depends upon it!
Now all of this clearly begs some rather obvious questions… Just how often do you and I consume God’s Word? For that matter, how much of it have we ever consumed? Are we frequent enough partakers of God’s Word that we know its contents? If not, do we at least know the menu whereby we can then partake and consume some portion of it?
Or do we find ourselves guilty of knowing far more of what the world proffers than of what God does? To be perfectly candid - are we more familiar with what all the world has to offer than with what the Lord has to offer?
And based on our responses to these questions, what do we plan to do about any of this? What should you plan to do about any of this? What should I plan to do?
Be advised as you make your decisions, my friend. The old adage is true: we are what we eat!
STATISTICS SOURCE: Information from article originally appearing in the Houston Chronicle 10/19/07. Reproduced widely on the internet since.
JINGLES SOURCES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK2qBbDn5W0
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJXzkUH72cY.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES: http://biblehub.com/jeremiah/15-16.htm and http://biblehub.com/niv/ezekiel/2.htm and http://biblehub.com/niv/ezekiel/3.htm.
SEE ALSO: http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/4.htm.
LASTLY, FOR US AGING BABYBOOMERS, HAVE SOME FUN WITH THESE SITES REMINISCING ABOUT THE WAY WE AS CHILDREN PARODIED OUR FAVORITE COMMERCIALS BACK IN THE DAY:
http://playgroundjungle.com/2009/12/mcdonalds-is-your-kind-of-place
and html.http://bussongs.com/songs/mcdonalds.php.
Now, if that sounds strange, remember that back in the day (the late 1960s and early 1970s), not every little town in America had fast food franchises. Of course, as the industry grew across our nation, my hometown would eventually get each of these restaurants, though this was not until years later. So, for us, it was quite a treat to visit an adjacent county seat town and experience fast food.
Of course, part of our desire was fueled by the explosion of marketing in that same time period. To this very day, I can still sing the radio and television jingles in my head with ease.
McDonald’s Big Mac Burger was celebrated in a classic commercial with the catchy little verse: “Two all-beef patties, special, lettuce cheese, pickles, onion, on a sesame seed bun!” Not to be out done, Burger King came out with its own memorable little ditty: “Have it your way! Have it your way! Hold the pickle; hold the lettuce; special orders don’t upset us. All we ask is that you let us serve it your way!”
Perhaps it is because of these very commercials that so many people in my generation know the ingredients of some of the nation’s leading hamburgers. And yet, according to an article I have in my files, it seems as if more people remember the ingredients of America's favorite hamburgers than remember the ingredients of America's favorite book – the Holy Bible.
A few years ago, a re-make of the classic 1959 Hollywood movie, The Ten Commandments, was released. Coinciding with this event, Kelton Research conducted a poll of 1,000 people to determine basic knowledge of the actual Ten Commandments. The results were distressing to say the least.
Eighty percent of those polled knew that a Big Mac had two all-beef patties and 62 percent knew that it had pickles. But less than 50 percent could remember even seven of the actual Ten Commandments as found in the Bible.
Bu there was more. Further polling of random individuals on the street only added to heartbreak. When questioned about knowledge of the Ten Commandments versus knowledge of popular culture, most people polled could easily remember the names of all four of the Beatles rock group, but a great many could not even remember one single commandment. Ouch!
In addition to the Ten Commandments, The Bible also contains a little known but intriguing passage about the prophet Ezekiel. Chapters 2, verse 9 down to chapter 3, verse 4 of his eponymous Old Testament work contain this story:
9Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words… 1And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. 4He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.
Little wonder, then, that the testimony of another Old Testament Prophet, Jeremiah (in chapter 15, verse 16 of his own work), was:
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”
Interesting, the name Ezekiel means "God strengthens" and the name Jeremiah means "God is high up". Thus, each man bore the name of God. And there you have it. God's commandment to those who bore His name was this: "Eat My Words!"
As Christians, we also bear the name of the God. Specifically, we bear the name of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we have also been commanded to consume the Word of God.
For it was Jesus, Himself, according to the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4, verse 4, Who told us that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! Therefore, just as was the case for the Prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah, it behooves us to consume as much of the Word of God as we can possible digest! Our spiritual life depends upon it!
Now all of this clearly begs some rather obvious questions… Just how often do you and I consume God’s Word? For that matter, how much of it have we ever consumed? Are we frequent enough partakers of God’s Word that we know its contents? If not, do we at least know the menu whereby we can then partake and consume some portion of it?
Or do we find ourselves guilty of knowing far more of what the world proffers than of what God does? To be perfectly candid - are we more familiar with what all the world has to offer than with what the Lord has to offer?
And based on our responses to these questions, what do we plan to do about any of this? What should you plan to do about any of this? What should I plan to do?
Be advised as you make your decisions, my friend. The old adage is true: we are what we eat!
STATISTICS SOURCE: Information from article originally appearing in the Houston Chronicle 10/19/07. Reproduced widely on the internet since.
JINGLES SOURCES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK2qBbDn5W0
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJXzkUH72cY.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES: http://biblehub.com/jeremiah/15-16.htm and http://biblehub.com/niv/ezekiel/2.htm and http://biblehub.com/niv/ezekiel/3.htm.
SEE ALSO: http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/4.htm.
LASTLY, FOR US AGING BABYBOOMERS, HAVE SOME FUN WITH THESE SITES REMINISCING ABOUT THE WAY WE AS CHILDREN PARODIED OUR FAVORITE COMMERCIALS BACK IN THE DAY:
http://playgroundjungle.com/2009/12/mcdonalds-is-your-kind-of-place
and html.http://bussongs.com/songs/mcdonalds.php.