A Full meal, or just a snack?

I have been pondering a statement that I came across yesterday. The statement was this...
"There is a difference between having an appetite, and being hungry." Now, most of us can relate (at least those with some extra weight) that many times we are not really hungry. True, there are many in America that are truly hungry and need our help, but not on the scale of say India, or many countries in Africa. They know hunger! Most of us however, have been blessed with rarely missing a meal, and it shows. What we have is an appetite! Most of us eat, not to live, but because the food taste good. One of my favorite things on the planet is a black bean veggie burger and a spinach salad with fries (okay...so two outta three ain't bad) from Chili's. Trust me, if one were offered to me, I would probably scarf it down, hungry or not. Why? Appetite. We are truly blessed in this country to have the ability to eat like we do. But our appetite will kill us if we do not change it. We in the south love fried foods! I get a pavloivian reaction every time I smell a wood fire and get weak in the knees thinking about grilling some salmon or brisket!
Appetite.
So, now that you are picking up some chop sticks and dipping some sushi in that hot green stuff (yea, I know what it is) chew on this.... What of our spiritual life? How many of us go get our church fix on because it seems like the right thing to do, yet leave the service unchanged, and unchallenged? Do we pray just enough, live our live just good enough, give offerings and to charity just enough to ease our appetite spiritually and think that all is okay? Doing the right thing is not good enough! Our lives will never make sense spiritually until we replace our spiritual appetite with a true hunger for God. Jesus is not a weekend friend. The challenge in our lives is that we must be consumed with wanting more of God. When you are truly hungry, that is all you can focus on. The aching in your gut does not allow other stuff in. That is where I want to be in Christ. My desire to know more of Him consumes me! No, I do not live in a commune, I realize that we must function in our daily lives, but what I am saying is that we must be passionate to pursue the working, leading and presence of God in our lives. 24/7/365. Only then will we truly see what God has for us.
Do you think that is too radical? If so, I want to say to you...give me a break! I have travelled around a few places in this world. I have studied Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Islam, and many other "isms" and in each case I see one factor that is consistent to true believers of their faith....discipline. You will bust your rear to get to yoga class or study tai-chi and God help you if you miss Oprah's web cast with Ekhart Tollie, so don't tell me that the idea of being a radical christian is too hard or "over zealous". God wants us to have so much more in our lives. More power, more destiny, more blessing, more answered prayer. It only comes through being hungry. My prayer today is that you and I develop a hunger for God in 2008 like never before and stop playing with religion and develop a relationship with Christ. Only he can fill the gap in your life. Get hungry! Jory