Great Books, Food and Worship

I attended my first colloquium on the Great Books of the Western World last evening.  Each of us (there were 5) were asked to bring points to discuss from the readings (Plato, Aristotle and Aristophanes).  The discussion was enlivening (despite the head cold we seem to be passing along in the family right now) and I look forward to more in the future.  For anyone looking to think on a deeper level (something greatly missing in our culture today) I recommend these courses offered through:

Face to Face with Greatness

Second, we have on occasion watched a TV show called "Man vs. Food".  We don't watch much TV but have watched this a few times.  This show really bothers me.  It glorfies gluttony- its a large man who goes around to different unique restaurants and eats their largest possible portion of their "famous" food - usually in a timed contest.  The people in the background cheer him on as he proceeds to gorge himself over and over to the point of almost being sick.  This show makes it cool to sin and to have no self restraint. Its also shows one of the problems of having men with no greater purpose than self gratification and entertainment-they are extremely childish.  Now on to a more pleasant thought-

In the book, "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" Donald Whitney talks about worship.  Here is a quote:

"Since worship is focusing on and responding to God, regardless of what else we are doing (in my case holding squirming young ones) we are not worshiping if we are not thinking about God.  You may be listening to a sermon, but without thinking of how God's truth applies to your life and affects your relationship with Him, you aren't worshiping.  You may be singing, 'Holy, Holy, Holy',  but if you aren't thinking about God while singing it, you are not worshiping.  You may be listening to someone pray, but if you aren't thinking of God and praying with them, you aren't worshiping...Jesus said the greatest commandment involved loving God with all the heart and with all the mind (Mark12:30).  Otherwise we worship in vain."