Hot Dog

Sunday July 4th 2010 was an incredible day but ended on a very strange note. I was privileged to listen to an inspiring message by Dr. Jay Passavant, we had a family game of baseball, rundown, and smores late night by the fire. Throughout the day Beth Ann and I were in constant discussion with each other and our two young boys about how blessed we are. We talked through how amazing the men and women who protect our freedom are and how much they and their families sacrifice on our behalf.

Beth Ann and I were winding down the night doing what she loves, watching ESPN (HaHa). About half way through the the telecast, ESPN showed highlights of our country's traditional 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Our first response was to quick change the channel because no pregnant women should be subject to that slop. My reaction slowly turned to a different disgust. On arguablely our countries brightest day: the celebration of our freedom, the constant reminder that we are free to worship Christ, a day when we all should be on our knees thanking those that serve...here was the USA (ESPN) braodcasting good old-fashioned American indulgence. In 2008, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 32.4 million adults and 16.7 million children according to Feeding America. Health experts believe that undernutrition and unsafe drinking water are the two major contributors to 10 million children dying before their fifth birthdays." - Richard Stearns, The Hole In Our Gospel. Maybe I am sensetive to the issue because of the season I am in, but something about an eating contest when millions of Americans are hungry does not sit well with me. We are better than that and can do better than that.

Mark

P.S.

Americans enjoy 150 million hot dogs each July 4-"enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times," said Janet "Queen of Wien" Riley, president of the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council.