Fuel and Salt

I've noticed recently that we have lots of food that is no-calorie, low calorie, etc.  It got me thinking why do we eat this stuff?  Is it really a selling feature to sell food that our bodies use for fuel that has no fuel or has had a lot of the fuel taken out of it?  Or has had the fuel altered to be different than the "normal" fuel?  Would we buy gas for our cars that has had all or most of the chemicals removed needed for combustion to happen?   My truck isn't very new or worth very much money, but I wouldn't put anything like that in it.  I buy fuel to be able to go places.  So the engine will function the way it should.  I want the engine to pull a load if I am pulling a trailer, I want it to make my truck go fast if I "floor-it".  Let's go a bit further.  I buy either gas or E85 for my truck because that is what it was designed to use.  It wasn't designed to use diesel, but it is sold where gas is and looks a lot like gas.  My truck wouldn't function well, if at all, if I started putting diesel in it (plus, have you seen the prices of diesel???)

Our bodies need nourishment from the food we eat, which includes calories we use for fuel.  I had a co-worker ask me the other day if I am still counting calories or not.  He was taken aback when I told him I never counted calories.  I ate (and still eat) when I'm hungry and I stop or don't eat when I'm not.  Throw in some exercise and you've got what dropped between 90 and 100 lbs off me and is still off.  The trick is eating the right foods.

So, I come back to my first question... What are these foods (and I use that term VERY loosely) that have had the calories taken out of them?  Do we eat them to get full and limit the intake of calories?  There is some logic there, but if we're hungry, shouldn't we eat?  If we're not, why are we putting things in our mouth?  Isn't hunger our body telling us it needs something?  Let's concentrate on getting food in our bodies that our bodies can use (like gas in our cars) and let's stop putting things in there manufactured for the taste/smell/appearance.  Let's face it... once we're done with it, it all looks the same!  Our bodies will function better and I bet if you're not the weight you should be, that you'll notice your clothes fitting better really soon. 

We don't need to put tons of calories in our body just for more energy, we can over do.  Plus, not all calories were created equal.  There are good ones and bad ones.  Calories our body can effectively and efficiently use and others that it doesn't know what to do with.  There are gas pumps and diesel pumps. 

When we go to the grocery store, how do we know which "pump" to use?  Look for foods that were not processed.  Fruits and veggies from the produce section.  Get fresh meats.  Remember, God didn't put any of our food in boxes for us. 

I've rambled on pretty good about this empty stuff we're putting in our bodies and calling food.  What can I use to apply to my walk with God in this?  In Matthew and Mark, Jesus talks about Christians being the salt of the Earth and asks what salt that has lost it's flavor is good for.  Are we the kind of Christians that make up programs, classes, even whole churches that don't provide saltiness?  If our job is to add flavor, why are we bland?  And if we're bland, what are we good for?   Let's all, as Christians, come out of the box!  Let's be good for something.  If I were put among a group of people, would they be changed?  Would there be a difference in the group?  I hope so, but have to admit, I'm probably at best half salty.  I'm working on becoming more salty, though.  What about you?  How salty are you?  What are you doing to add flavor?  Are you trying to add the right flavor?


May He Increase and i decrease!