Eating at the B & W

When I was a boy my grandparents (mother's side) would periodically take us to Nashville, TN. It was a time before malls, as downtown Nashville had several large department stores and several movie theaters. The women would go to Cain-Sloan and Harvey's (department stores) to shop and the men, even though I was under ten I was included, would go to a movie. My grandfather owned a theater in Middle Tennessee and would view perspective movies to bring to his theater. But before the group would split up, we would eat at the B & W Cafeteria off of Church Street in Nashville. It was heaven for a young lad. The cafeteria offered all kinds of entrees and the trimmings. The catch was that every bowl and plate had a price. My eyes were always bigger than my stomach.

Unfortunately, many today view church like that old cafeteria. The mentality is that we get to pick and choose what we want to do and when we do it. Yes, I understand the "talent" mentality, but I believe we have given the church an excuse to not get involved. Where is sacrifice? Where is service? Where is discipline?

I loved the old B & W Cafeteria, but that was for eating, not for serving God.