Hearts in Service: Ethnic Food

Kimchi, Falafel, Albondigas, Pepperkakor, Bizcochitos, Fattoush, Kima, Hummus, and Capanata. These are merely a few of the dishes I've made this year.We love ethnic food around here and one of our favorite things to do is to form a meal from different countries from first to end.I remember my cooking reflects my bed of early cultures and people.For as tenacious as I can remember I've wanted to go the world.

've wanted to pass some time in another country.When I was in high school I view the Lord was calling me onto the mission field.I ended up going to college and then onto seminary with that function in mind.However, God had other plans for me.He is safe though and He brought the other cultures to me.Dan & I served for ten days in an interior city ministry in New Jersey.This city was small, only 8 square miles, but there were 150,000 people in that metropolis and we met people from every country imaginable.I was the manager of an adult literacy program and an English as a Second Language program and had students from Bangladesh, Turkey, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Africa, and former countries.Just as I can't imagine eating only American food, I can't imagine only wanting to get to my "own kind."Unfortunately, there are so many people who believe that way.And even sadder to me is when this thinking creeps into the church.It happens more than you think.Terms like "those blacks" or "those Mexicans" or "this town isn't the like since all the Spanish moved in."It honestly makes me feel sad when I see that.One of my favorite verses is found in Revelation and it's a figure of the nations worshiping in heaven.Revelation 7:9-10 ~After this I looked, and thither before me was a large people that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the pot and earlier the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."God is a God of diversity.He created all people from every color and culture.He loves them all equally.One day we will suffer before the Lord and get to suffice for every careless word.Let's be a multitude who embrace those who are different than us and not cut them down.I'm reasonably sure God likes ethnic food too! ;-)