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    The vote is on! They’re looking for the public’s favorite Wheaties^® carton cover. They want us to select our favorite champion box image, then they are going to reissue the boxes one more time in honor of the athletes and their own 75th anniversary.

    I saw the commercial advertising the “breakfast of champions” with Mary Lou Retton making that incredible vault one night right before I went to sleep. It was stuck in my head when I got up the next morning. As I ran into the convenience store on the way to work, I saw a guy buying his version of the “breakfast of champions” — Ding Dongs, a quart of Chocolate Milk, and pack of cigarettes. I couldn’t help chuckling when he managed to have the milk and ding dongs open and the cigarette lit by the time he hit the door. I was wondering if he was shooting for a heart attack by noon or just by the end of the day.

I just couldn’t get this idea out of my mind.

    Then the Father did what he so often does when I think poorly of others: He reminds me of me.

    Ouch!

    “Okay Phil, let’s be honest about yourself.”

    “That’s too convicting,” I thought. But I just couldn’t get this idea out of my mind.

    I thought of my own bad and unhealthy eating habits as I slurped down my 1 liter Dr. Pepper at 7:25 in the morning. That was convicting enough, but when the Holy Spirit knocked again on the door of my heart, it really got to me: “What about all the spiritual junk you’re letting Satan use to clog up your walk with God and divert your focus from what is spiritually important?”

    “The breakfast of champions” and Mary Lou Retton’s gold medal vault popped back in mind. “The real breakfast of champions” is the only way to start the day and get my heart pointed in the right direction. But instead of a Dr. Pepper or chocolate milk, ding dongs, and cigarettes, I remembered the breakfast of my Champion!

    “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) ... the real breakfast of champions!