Creekside Church Sermon of August 10, 2003 "Picky Eaters" John 6:24-35	Rev. David Bibbee
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Early in my first pastorate we invited a church family to dinner at the parsonage-- Dad, Mom, and their eight year old son, Billy, whose name has been changed to protect "the guilty." For the entree I made Beef Stroganoff-- not "mock stroganoff" from the "1001 Canned Soup Creations Cook Book"; not a short-cut recipe from the Twenty Delicious Meals in Twenty Minutes supplement to the Sunday paper. This was the real McCoy-- sirloin tips, fresh mushrooms, sour cream-- the works.

After all were seated, I served the stroganoff nestled atop a bed of done-to-perfection buttered noodles and a lovely parsley garnish. With the entree I served fresh-picked green beans, a tossed salad and condiments, and chocolate cream pie with "real" whipped cream for dessert.

As we ate, Billy picked at the stroganoff like a paleontologist delicately unearthing dinosaur bones. "Aren't you hungry?" I asked. "Yes," he said. Mom chimed in-- "I should have told you-- Billy wont' eat noodles with anything on them." "No problem. I'll fix another plate," I said. I handed it to Billy, stroganoff on one side, noodles on the other.

Billy took a tentative bite, tugged on his mom's sleeve, and whispered something in her ear. "Those are mushrooms in the stroganoff," his mother replied. Then she said, "I'm sorry. I should have told you-- Billy doesn't eat mushrooms." "Allergies?" I asked. "No. He just doesn't like them. Do you have any hot dogs? He'll eat hot dogs."

I wanted to ask, "Do I look like a short-order cook at the 'Bend Backwards for Billy Cafe?'" But being a patient pastor, I think I said, "Sure, I'll boil the lad......... a couple hot dogs." I started wondering if the deacons had planted a spy family to see what I would do under pressure. "As Billy poured catsup over his dogs, his Dad said, "He has always been a finicky eater." I almost said, "Sorry, but we just ate the last two finickies last night. I guess he'll have to eat what's put in front of him!"

As the pie was being sliced for dessert, Mom, said, "Ooops! I should have told you--Billy doesn't like cream pies, either. Do you have any bananas? He loves bananas." Then I remembered something W.C. Fields said when asked if he liked children. "It all depends on how you cook them." I handed Sir Billy the banana. Mom took it from him and peeled it. "He won't eat bananas unless I cut them into wheels."

If you has said to me, "A penny for your thoughts," my thought would have been, "Look, Billy-- when you're a guest in someone's home, eat what they put in front of you. If you can't do that, make axles out of your hot dogs, stick on the banana wheels and roll your picky eatin' little hide home!"

If we allowed our children to eat only what they wanted, what would their diet look like? Their daily fruit intake would be a bowl of Fruit Loops. Chocolate and Cheetohs' would count as a vegetable. Their daily fluid intake would be three cans of Mountain Dew. This diet would keep them alive, but hardly healthy. It would be detrimental to their health and cut years off their lives. They could eat their fill, and be malnourished. This is why parents wheedle and cajole, and resort to trickery, bribery, and begging to get kids to eat what is good for them. Health professional are saying that in the United States, obesity among all age groups, and particularly among children, is not a big problem-- its an epidemic!

But picky eating is not confined to the foods we feed our bodies. The same thing happens with food for our souls. We are picky when it comes to our spiritual nourishment.

After Jesus catered a meal for five thousand, the crowds followed him for more. What they wanted, though, was a tiny portion of what Jesus offered.They were after bread that sated their hunger for the time being, while Jesus offered bread that satisfied their deepest hunger for ever.

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never hunger." That is what He promised. But the promise is true only if you eat what is set before you. You can't get the full benefit from a bite or two of the Bread of Life. You can't leave the crust. Willie Nelson, and before him, the famous jazz singer, Billie Holiday, sang a song that asked, "ALL OF ME. WHY NOT TAKE ALL OF ME?"

Many Christians are "picky partakers" of the spiritual bread. They accept titles and not the tasks that go with them. It nice to be known as a Christian. It speaks well of us to be "members" of the church. It looks good to have the credit included in your obituary. ".......was a long-time member of the Elkhart City Church of the Brethren." But the Christian title is worthless without evidence in our actions. Every day we imagine his life is at work in ours. Rather than be seen in a positive light, we RADIATE his light.

Picky eaters accept titles without tasks. They also embrace blessings but dodge burdens. Jesus promised us abundant life and overflowing joy. But it is balanced by marching orders to pick up our crosses and daily follow him. It means laughing with those who laugh, but also weeping with those who weep. It means handing our loads to Jesus who said, "Come to me, all who are weak and carry heavy burdens, and I'll give you rest." But it also means seeing others with Jesus' eyes, carrying their hurts in our hearts, and helping shoulder their burdens.

Picky eaters prefer titles to tasks, blessings to burdens, and taking a seat to taking a stand. "Thinking" about what is right is not "doing" what is right. A co-worker utters a racial slur. Inside you shudder, but you're silent, which is interpreted as agreement. In a careless moment, you speak words that "cut to the quick" someone close to you. Instead of apologizing, you go about your business because you don't think it is that big of a deal, and beside, they know you didn't mean it.

Picky eaters also get their priorities mixed up. "Make peace with your brother or sister before leaving your gift at the altar, or before you partake of the Lord's Supper." When it comes to giving, make your first offering to God and the work of the church. Don't decide what God gets on the basis of what is left over after you're done with it. Keep second-rate things out of first-rate places. Happiness does not come when we try to get it. Like C.S. Lewis said, "You can't get second things by putting them first, you can get second things only by putting first things first."

Picky eaters who nibble at the Bread of Life are spiritually malnourished. They starve themselves when they could feast for ever! Why settle for a "semblance" of life when you can have the real article? In an interview, Paul Newman was asked if he had ever been tempted to be unfaithful to his wife of many years, Joan Woodward. He said, "Why would I go out for a hamburger when I have steak at home?"And Jesus asked, "Why labor for food that perishes when you can have food that sticks to your soul forever?"

In just a moment we will serve Sunday dinner. The table is set. We have enough places and more than enough food for everyone. Its not a buffet where you can pick and choose what you want. There is only one entree. Please do not take a piece and then decide you don' want it. Don't take a little bite and put the rest back.

We all pick the portions of living bread leaving the rest. We only take the part that suits us, maybe because it seems too good to believe that Jesus can satisfy ALL our hungers. If we lack, it is not because Jesus has been tried and we have be left wanting. It is because Jesus has not been tried, not fully, and we have been left wondering.

Dinner is ready now, so come to the table and take your place. Eat this bread. Drink this cup. Come to him and never be hungry.

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