Sunday.....Christianity.....More Food Sir?

The following is a paragraph from Charles Dickens Oliver Twist where the boys who lived at the workhouse were issued three meals of thin gruel a day, with an onion twice a week, and a half a roll on Sundays. The boys cast lots and Oliver was chosen to ask for a second portion of food. Here are Dickens words: The evening arrived; the boys took their place. The master, in his cook's uniform stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered themselves, and winked at Oliver; while his neighbors nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity: 'Please sir, I want some more food.' There have been times, in the past, when I have gone up to a pastor after the sermon and essentially said the same thing, More food sir? There are many throughout Christian churches in this country who are malnourished and probably some congregations where an Oliver was chosen, or volunteered. The problem becomes even more complicated for there have been times when I had been fed overwhelming portions and failed to acknowledge it and be thankful, but as in personal finances, maybe it's good to experience lean times in order to be thankful in fatter times. The problem becomes even more pronounced in that the vast majority of those who not hear the gospel, do not even know it.