I like food. I like variety. But I was brought up as a Seventh-day Adventist, which means the two aren’t always easy to combine. We don’t eat pork, shrimp, shellfish, intestines, etc. And a lot of us, including my family, are vegetarians. It’s not impossible to find and cook delicious and nourishing food, but it would still be much easier if we could just eat anything from the supermarket. I do eat meat now, but still not everything.

Earlier today I was in Netto, and noticed another customer shopping for his lunch: a loaf of rye bread, a cucumber, and three types of meat, two of these including pork. Too easy. Now I am aware that Netto’s product line is hardly inspiring, but it would help if I could sample all of their offerings, and not just the small portion that isn’t from “unclean” meats.

The same goes for travelling. It’s heaps easier to dine out when you can order meat, but still there are regional differences in the availability of clean meats. In Denmark you’ll probably find that around half of a restaurant menu features unsuitable stuff; in England it’d probably be less. Bangkok is manageable (chicken is always available) and even delicious if you’re lucky, but nowhere near the variety and attractiveness of Chiang Mai. A large Muslim population would usually be a boon.

But back to Netto – what if all of the different foods in the store were valid candidates for my consumption? If a Mosaic approach to eating had influenced a whole cuisine (Israel, anyone?), instead of the traditional Adventist meat rip-off products? If you could wipe the slate clean and come up with a new way of eating, unbound by tradition?

Or, on the other hand, what if I just cleaned my own table and started from the top. Stopped caring about clean and unclean and just enjoyed whatever nature (and Netto) had to offer. I probably can’t do it though – too much tradition.

I got to reading Romans 14 last night. And this chapter might as well have been titled something like “Paul’s 2^nd letter to the Adventists”. For it focuses on what to eat and what not to eat; an issue that – although not at the centre of Adventist theology – has had a profound impact on our identity. Sadly, one might add, as Tvesok has done.

Consider these passages from The Message version:

“For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table.

If you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for the prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli.

If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don’t eat, you’re no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don’t you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!” (Romans 14:2-4,6,15-16, Msg)

Some would no doubt be quick to point out that Paul is not talking about clean and unclean meats here, that he would not even regard unclean meats as food, and thus they are not part of this picture. Perhaps. But that is not the point – no, Paul is not talking about clean/unclean, he isn’t even talking about food per se, he’s talking about accepting other points of view than your own and embracing fellow Christians in spite of differing opinions.

“So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you?” (Romans 14:19, Msg)

There are many Christian churches, and none will agree on every single issue. There are many Christians, and none will agree on every single issue. The question is, do you focus on the issues where you disagree, or on those where you agree? I say, let God do the judging.

I have waited for this for many years. Had almost given up hope, thinking it was never going to happen. And now, all of a sudden, it’s here. Coming all the way from the mountains of America to the flat plains of Denmark. Crystal clear, reminiscent of home, of happiness from an earlier life, lighting up my life in new ways.

The news is that finally, the soft drink Mountain Dew is available for purchase in Denmark, until now at every 7-Eleven. I got one today to go with my Whopper, and enjoyed both on the train to Hedensted (of all places), while listening to The Star-Spangled Banner on my iPod. Tacky, I know, but hey, you have to cherish the moment.

This is in every way a good development.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone for whom this means something–and to the rest of you, too.

Today I am thankful mainly for the fact that I get to take time off to celebrate this holiday. Over the course of a few years I have managed to create a tradition that must not be missed, regardless of stress-levels. Which, incidently, are high at the moment, wih moving and studying and all. But the 4th Thursday of November is time for friends and good food, and nothing will change that.

So, here’s my menu for tonight. Most of them courtesy of allrecipes.com, some of them tried before, som of them new. We’ll be 9 people.

• Grilled Turkey Tenderloins. This year, for once, I ‘ve decided against the whole roasted turkey. That will save lots of time, and hopefully taste almost as good.
• Green Bean and Potato Casserole. A smart mixture of two dishes: this will be the main potato course.
• Whipped Sweet Potato Casserole. It wouldn’t be a real Thanksgiving without at least one dish containing marshmallows.
• Sweet Stuffing. In a casserole, obviously, as the turkey isn’t whole. Containing cranberries, raisin bread, sage, and other good stuff.
• Lime Gelatin Salad. With pineapple and nuts.
• Buttermilk Cornbread. Making it myself for the first time.
• Pumpkin Pie. Apart from the turkey, this is what it’s all about.

So, in stead of sitting here blogging, I’d better get started