More than Pork.

[Tracy]

I am interested to know what the Dietary Laws mean to others here? Does it just mean you don't eat pork and seafood? Or more?
My husband and I have felt convicted for about 4 years now to put away eating pork. We only eat it if it is put before us. It can be difficult trying to explain it if it comes up with others as there is Peter's vision in Acts 10 which leaves a lot of questions for others. There is also the lawlessness which fills the church today, which I generally find leaves people uncomfortable with absolutes.
I look forward to hearing input from others.
Blessings,
Tracy

[Tracey Absolon]

mmm Ok, well here is an interesting piece of information that I was told a couple of weeks ago. Have yet to source the information myself to verify, but here it is. Someone was asking why maple syrup doesn't have a kosher stamp, and the reply was because maple syrup is so thick and runs so slow, the draining pipes are greased with lard to to help the syrup flow faster!! Makes you stop and think if, if that is true.

Another conversation was about my using tallow in my soap making and I was told that the suet was to have been burnt on the alter and good ole olive oil soap was all they used. My thoughts were that that applied only to the sacrificial animals, not the everyday killing of food. I just find it a little difficult to believe that every time a butcher killer an animal, he had to race down to the temple and burn the suet.
I often wonder how long it was before they realised after a rainstorm that they had made a crude form of soap. I mean, with all the beautiful potash mixed with melted suet lying around, someone must have slipped over on it at some stage. lol
Just me rambling again.
Tracey

[P*]

Dear Trace,:o)

Is it ok if I totally "lalala" that whole tallow and suet thing while using my BEAUTIFUL soaps?;)

P*

[Tracey Absolon]

Well before you start thinking iky iky iky, I'm bathing in cow fat, none of the soaps that I sent you are make with tallow. They are all olive bases.
There that make you feel better? lol
Tallow, however, does make a great cleaning soap, and is the base of my laundry soap.
Tracey

[P*]

Whew!;)

[Lori Lee]

Thank you, Mary, for the explanation on the fat and blood. I have never lived on a farm and do not know how the slaughtering takes place, so it helps to understand that process.

You didn't see our replies, I think, because I replied to a particular comment and not under the main post, so our replies showed up under that particular thread within this discussion.

Lori

[Robin Sampson]

I'm teaching VBS this week. Check out the menu
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_kids_vbs_08_family_night_menu...

Would you share your convictions?

[P*]

Ohhhh, dear...the whole mental picture of that ham, carved like a pig, has me LOL over here. Blech!

On a more serious note, hmmm...only YOU will know if the time is right to share your convictions, Robin. People are strange animals (lol...no pun intended:), and just may trample your heartfelt (Biblically based) convictions, unfortunately.:( However, if our LORD says speak, I'm confident you will.:o)

Praying He'll give you wisdom in this matter...

P*

[Robin Sampson]

They recommend shrimp this VBS too. I already instructed my children to stay lear of unclean meat but not to say say anything becasue some people don't know any better.

It's amazing how much unclean meat is served. It appears at almost every gathering. Easter morning they served sausage biscuits in Sunday school.

BUT we learned a great song this morning teaching "His name is YHWH."

I was thinking about giving the "Holy Cow" book to the pastor and Sunday school teacher but want to wait for the right timing.I need to wait until they know me well enough to know I'm passing on information. not condemning.

[P*]

Well, I guess those Easter biscuits go hand in hand with the Easter ham?;) It never ceases to amaze me that HAM has become the most advertised meat during the supposed celebration of His resurrection. Go figure.:-/

But, ya know...I always wonder, after I point something like this out about others...what God's gonna reveal to ME in the future about stuff that I'M not doing quite right now. LOL! Know what I mean? So...with that thought, I am SO with you on passing on information as opposed to condemnation.:o)

Btw, cool about the song. Wish we could hear a clip of that!:o)

[Mary]

The problem with most VBS themes (and I have helped with and directed many) is that they naturally tend to certain foods. Any luau theme is going to have pig in some form as that is the natural picture of a luau, a pig being cooked on a pit. The way we have shared our views in the past is to say how odd it is that we celebrate supposedly Christian holidays and occasions with unclean meats. Is that really what Jesus intended? It often opens up a great discussion, however, there will be those who will not hear and will not want to change the menu, particularly the ones in charge of food. It is not easy to come up with a menu that goes along with the theme of a VBS. It is usually easier to just follow their menu. You will then be left with how to deal with it for your family. There are veggie links to use for the hot dog things but I don't know how to avoid the carved ham.

I sometimes wonder who comes up with the themes for some VBS programs. Many that I have seen would naturally have a pagan component that the writers just ignore as if it is not there. I always tried to steer clear of those but every year one of the big publishers come up with one that I would find questionable and would not want the kids to explore the topic outside of the closed environment of the VBS. I'm surprised I haven't seen a Harry Potter type theme yet! Oh well, I digress.

I also pray that the Lord will give you wisdom not only in sharing your convictions but how to deal with the possible fallout from sharing.

Mary

[Jody]

Shalom Tracey, As you know, the Isra'el ites did not eat much meat in their daily diet. But as with the examples given they did slaughter an animal (or hunt) for special occasions. This fat would not have been a sacrifice. I am sure they were aware and probably (IMHO) had used the fat in the making of their soap. If you think of the Red hefer being used for sanctified cleansing, they obviously were aware of the product. I had not heard that about maple syrup. I would doubt that ALL maple syrup is processed that way, but do not doubt that much may be.
As far as the responces, I am not very computer literate, so perhaps that is why I didn't see my response. Anyway, I am enjoying the activity of this discussion. Sharing insight and experiences.

[Katia]

I have wanted to comment on this and keep running out of time LOL. This is such a good discussion.

Wow, Robin, what a menu for your VBS! At least they seemed to have some things that weren't made with unclean stuff. One year at our previous church, the only thing clean was the pickles and chips. LOL

My husband, daughter and I, have not eaten pork or shell fish since spring of 2005. Our family has resented and argued with us, like most everyone does when it came down to us telling them we no longer eat unclean meats......anyhow, they got used to us and now have something else besides pork whenever we get together......in church we try not to tell anyone.....we simply don't eat what appears to be pork or shell fish.....

Recently, my DH was at a men's Bible study and they served sausages, he buttered his bun and ate it plain along with the side dishes.....someone looked at him and said "There is plenty, grab you a sausage" his kindly reply "I don't eat pork" then one guy said "Well, we know we can't have a pig roast next time" ......Our pastor knows we eat Biblical Kosher....so he said to Mark "I've brought some chicken breasts if you like it on your bun" He thought of Mark ahead of time for he knew they were going to serve pork ............Mark, then left at that and they went on to talk about something else. Nothing else was said.

On another occasion, I simply said "I don't eat pork".....We try very hard not to make a big deal about it in church.....everyone is in a different place on this journey we all seek to follow.... We have found that the food issue is not the way to teach Hebrew Roots in church. It actually pushes people away from it......We have seen a lot of hurt feelings because of it.

About the mission field:
When i was very young, I was part of my Bible School's Mission trip to reach the unsaved from the jungle....we went deep into the Amazon jungle.......Fish was very scarce that particular month.......a very kind brother in Messiah came by canoe on a 45 minute trip and brought us some unclean fish......I was never one to eat it, I was sick just looking at it......My pastor said: "Eat what's before you, don't offend him, and be grateful" I was one of the cooks, so we prepared the fish and when was time for me to serve, I made my self busy with the dishes. Later after everyone ate and left, my pastors wife let us (who had not eaten) eat a fried egg with rice and beans.

On another occasion, we were served crocodile, I was so grossed out just by looking at.....someone looked at me and said: "look it's white meat, it's OK".......my mom said to me "You don't have to eat it" again I had an egg with rice and beans. On innumerable occasions, I was served unclean stuff on our trips to the jungle, but, tried never to make a big scene either......the natives do get very offended and hurt. The key is to know when not to say things and to say it.
(((hugs)))
Katia