Hear it from Carl - Round 2

Jan 8 - Tuesday

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FAME –Our welcome has not continued on into hospitality and a sharing of life with one another. As the pastors were sharing about the riots of 1992 and told of the heroism of the men going as a human shield for the firefighters, my heart swelled with recognition of the clear evidence of Christ in these actions and that God had been glorified in that. That is the sort of thing which I want to be known by and how a church should act in times of crisis – with compassion and courage in the face of chaos.

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Aunt Rosa Lee’s Mississippi Soul Food - Excellent experience. The wait reminded me that feeding the soul is something that you cannot rush. Trying to rush things along will accomplish nothing except to frustrate.

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Museum of Tolerance – In the presentation by the Holocaust survivor was good but not as gripping as I might have thought. I was very caught up though by his questions near the end of the session. “What if I had been a German Christian boy ? What would I have done in that situation?” I like to think that I know what my answer would be – BUT… I am quite sure that I would have acted in confusion, uncertainty and inconsistency. I was also struck by his observation that the present generations of German youth have in many instances been in conflict with their parents and grandparents over the role which they played in this horrific genocide. I loved the verses that were shared about not visiting the sins of the father upon the son. One other comment which I want to reflect upon a bit more was from the last portion of the speech that he read – “While we cannot forgive, we must transform the past”. My idea of transformation has always included some aspect of forgiveness. Perhaps the transformation that he is speaking of is in itself part of a process of moving toward forgiveness.

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At the Museum exhibit, I found it odd though unsurprising to see no mention of the genocide of Native Americans, the economic genocide of the IMF and the World Bank, the oppression and enslavement of sweatshops which feed the Western consumer economy. This omission suggests an awareness of “tolerance” that is highly colored by a new nationalism which blinds the survivors of one holocaust to those which they are also culpable for either directly or through negligence. Coming from a place of privilege and security, I am unsure of how to respond other to commit myself to standing together with those in my own context who experience injustice.

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Jan. 9 - Wednesday

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Faithful Central Bible Church / LA Forum – This presentation reminded me again that God is working even in those theologies that I am uncomfortable with. The story of their acquisition of the Forum was very inspiring especially in its reminder to think about how big my God is. In the personal story which the pastor shared with us there were glimpses of how the church had encouraged her to use her gifts and to embody the good news through sharing her life and skills with others in need. The amount of expertise and partnerships which this church has utilized is a clear reminder that so much can be accomplished when work hand in hand with others and their gifts. I often wonder about how open I am to partnering in ministry with others and how protective I am about perhaps loss of control or potential negative impacts on “my” ministry. This presentation inspired me to be more open to allowing others to contribute their skills and gifts.

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All Saints Episcopal – This was excellent to hear the heartbeat of the rectors and their view of their ministry. It really provided a better contextual understanding of their worship and approach. I was surprised by the sparse use of imagery in this church. I had expected more elaborate iconography, etc. When we asked about the current struggles over the issue of gay clergy, etc. I appreciated a statement he made about the necessity and the positive nature of airing their disagreements publicly within the structure of the church assemblies rather than in back rooms.

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Metropolitan Community Church – I was very saddened and left this church with a heavy heart. I was also frustrated by the inconsistent logic, ethics, and theology which Pastor Thomas used to present their church as a viable alternative. I was reminded again that God loves everyone and I deeply feel the responsibility which the church has in its inability to love to homosexuals. Rather than hearing the truth in the context of loving relationship, they now receive permission to live as they wish without the costly discipleship and surrender to the transforming will of Christ. My heart aches. On a lighter note, I am so happy that the conversation went well without becoming a heated debate.

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Jan. 10 – Thursday

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Hsi Lai Bhuddist Temple – This was an empty experience. I felt a sense of hopelessness and meaninglessness in this place. The utter futility and endless pursuit of enlightenment in hope of release from reality was quite depressing. But it is very easy to understand though why Bhuddism is so attractive to many people. Everything is about how you perceive things and how you want to interpret it for your own life. The precepts are surprisingly similar to Christianity with the obvious absence of the relational aspects of knowing God. I really enjoyed the meditation class and I was a bit surprised by that. I thought that I would feel more uncomfortable participating in this but found that it really was only a tool for focusing myself clearly. Unlike the Bhuddist notion of emptying, I found that it was a great way for me to contemplate the presence of God and to listen for his voice. This experience of meditation has encouraged me to be more contemplative in my prayer life.

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Mama’s Hot Tamales Café / McArthur Park – It is amazing to see the radical difference which a determined group of individuals can make in a neighborhood. While the park was not all that clean, it certainly did not feel like the dangerous place that it once had been. Once again, the emphasis on partnerships and expertise from the various levels of government, social networks, and community leaders was clearly the key. I loved the business incubator model which this café is using to give the boost that people need to be able to help themselves, which brings stability, and which ultimately transforms the community. I loved how the café was able to integrate the wide variety of Hispanic cultures into a unified model of community development. This was inspiring.