Three feasts

9:34 p.m. Today's project was to  enjoy my third Thanksgiving feast in as many days! I believe that feasting is scriptural, since God ordained seven festivals (Leviticus 23, Numbers 16, 23,25 28) from Passover to Pentecost; and Jesus, as an obedient male Jew, observed them,  John 2:13:

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.

Jesus attended all of the festivals, and feasted with friends besides, to the point that the Pharisees used His enjoyment of meals with common people, to say to His,disciples,  Matthew 9:11,

Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? or, NLT, "Why does He eat with such scum?

In Luke 7:33-34, Jesus points out his critics' hypocrisy:

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!"

Suffice it to say, believers may feast happily and with gusto, because Jesus did!

Most Americans enjoy the annual feast day Thanksgiving, which corresponds with the Jewish feast Succoth, meaning Shelters or Tabernacles, where the people erected and lived in tents in the fields, thanking God and celebrating final harvest. Additionally, in our Judeo-Christian culture, we feast on Easter, which follows Passover on our calendar; then Christmas Day and Hanukkah. Fourth of July is the reason for celebratory fireworks and picnic food, remembering our fight to become an independent nation.

The Riverside Kruckenberg family hosts the annual August party for all of our extended family, too. But in comparison with the Jewish calendar, I think we're at least two festivals short in our year!

With that biblical background noted, I feel much more justified in eating: 1.  My own cooking on Thanksgiving.  2. A full Romanian style Thanksgiving meal on Friday afternoon at my daughter Heidi's in-laws' home with her husband Pavel's family.  3. Tonight, all five of my kids and their spouses plus all three of my grandsons were present at my oldest son Sean's home for a spectacular meal of roast beef, tri-tip, ham, homemade mac 'n cheese, gourmet squash and veggies, and an array of desserts. We had great conversation, and (as pictured below) fun playing with Clark!

During this weekend of celebrating, we included my dad, and went to visit Steve, as did his siblings earlier today. No loved one was excluded.

There is much talk and even demand today for "full inclusion." Looks like my Lord Jesus invented that!