...what's for dinner?

Over 15 years ago, a group of women became friends.  Some of us knew each other from college years but we blended beyond that for a season as moms.

Originally, there were actually five of us in a Bible Study for several years.  But in one year we faced dramatic change.  Moves to Latvia, Oregon, Montana and adoption of 5 kids all at once left me the only one who stayed more or less the same.  I was in shell shock at the sudden loss of proximity.  The loneliness was palpable for several years. 

But - JOY - for this one magical summer evening, three of us got to hang out together! Two families were here from China and Hawaii to check on homes they still own here on the island!  We three girlfriends settled on a night to get together.  Our husbands were out of town or already committed so I wondered what the kids could do together.  I had this idea to let the kids cook supper (all teens now).  Our kids have not been around each other in years, but they share some fabulous early memories that they easily built on.

Oddly, I've been reading about food in I Corinthians.  I've been stuck on this section.  I can so easily turn any mention of food in the Bible into a personal diet issue.  Not the best way to read these passages.  Watching the kids cook made these words pop off the page for me... finally.

23“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”^f

27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

It struck me that this meal was a pretty fun picture of this passage in some ways.

First, I gave Kevin and Laina my books and let them set the menu.  (Just like God gives me freedom to read anywhere in His word that inspires me.)

There were TONS of options.

At one point they had Cooking Light 5 Ingredient/15 Minute Cookbook (my favorite cookbook), the laptop, the cell phone, my binder and Laina's first childhood cookbook. 

All choices were acceptable.  (Just like my reading basket combined with my laptop, Bible, devotional books, journals, sketch pads...)

They had the right to do anything.  But with beginning cooks, not everything would be beneficial.  They chose a menu that was for the good of others since they'd all be cooking together.

Dijon Pork Chops
Oven Baked Asparagus
Mashed Red Potatoes
Blackberry Cobbler

Had anyone been kosher, they'd obviously not have done pork, but we had a cultural mix that was fine with this menu.

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”^f

Next, the kids picked blackberries while Kevin's mom and I sorted from her storage room to take things to the thrift store, recycling, dump, etc.  This dessert was inspired by the bowl of blackberries my dad dropped by.  He'd picked them before trimming his blackberry bush back.  He can't eat them now, but they were too pretty to waste.  Yum!

Kevin and Laina were born one week apart and have been friends their whole lives.  While they picked, the moms looked at sweet photos in the storage room from their baby days.  Then we'd look at them laughing together outside while picking from Kevin's favorite bush.  (No, all blackberries are not the same... LOL.)

Memories were being added to memories.  

 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

We, as families, are very like-minded, so the verses about food dedicated to idols didn't apply to our shared meal.  But we are all very aware that as we rub shoulders with other cultures we can have close fellowship, but there is a line that needs to be drawn when it comes to who gets the glory...

Food is food.  But we are responsible to lovingly exhibit that only Jesus Christ is worthy of glory and worship.  Thankfulness is HUGE in the Christian life.  HUGE.  To be truly thankful is not just the fluffy "I feel glad about this" emotion we call being thankful.  It is conscious, directed acknowledgement to someone outside ourselves.  So if, knowing this, we shared in someone's idolatry, it would be like us saying to them, "Yeah, you're on the right track."  29I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours.

I'm not really sure how this might happen today...  Maybe if I were to go to a fundraising dinner for a cause that denies Jesus as Lord such as Planned Parenthood?  That food would be dedicated to a lie.  For the sake of all concerned, I shouldn't dine.  Now, I could have a friend who believes in Planned Parenthood.  We could even eat the same menu elsewhere, say in a restaurant, and be fine.  But when the food has been dedicated to a cause, it becomes a different matter...

But back to our teen cook off!

By now it, was 3:00.  The numbers began to grow as we picked up more kids for shopping.

The moms sent money and trusted the kids to take whatever they needed.  We knew they'd most likely make a few rooky mistakes, but that was part of the fun of sending them out together!  

Isn't that just like God?  He gives us all we need and doesn't expect us to be perfect.  He's thrilled if we enjoy doing it together, shopping in His unlimited storehouse of blessings for us?!!!  

Then the fun began!

 Every once in a while, I'd step in to show them where something was that would be beneficial,

 or to teach them a new skill,

 or to encourage them to teach others what they already knew,

 or to help those who had to arrive later catch the vision of reading the instructions, and just doing what it said rather than trying to rewrite the book according to their own preference or experience...

Agreeing to follow the book gave them all security and unity.

And produced a glorious meal!

Then we enjoyed the literal fruit of their labor.  Blackberries!

It took longer than they thought for the cobbler to cook, but they were patient.  And it was worth waiting for.  Rather than whining about how long it was taking, they played games and had a blast.



1So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Between us all, we represented the following cultural heritage or dwellings:  Swedish, Northwest, Southern, Mexican, Native American, Japanese, Chinese, Hawaiian, "Heinz 57 American", urban, rural, big family, small family, home school, public school, international school, adopted, natural born, working mom, stay at home mom and on and on it goes with the variety.

It was AWESOME!!!  Thank you,  (listed in no particular order) Kevin, Janey, Tatsi, Corina, Joshua, Esty, Davis, Laina.   My kitchen has never been so blessed!

1So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

That's the bottom line, 'nough said.

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