From Jan. 5-19 Carl took a Cross Cultural Encounters course. The first part of the course was down in Los Angeles and the second part was here in Fresno. He had long days touring different churches, organizations, and listening to different speakers. I wanted him to blog about his experiences, but since he is up to his ears in course work, gave me permission to post some of his journals. The original journal was 27 pages, but he compacted the work into 10 pages of highlights. Every few days, I'll post another installment. Enjoy!
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January 5 - Saturday
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The conversations in our van on the way into L.A. were quite interesting because of how quickly people were willing to reveal themselves and their backgrounds and some of the challenges which they faced in their personal lives. It is good to remember that we have something unifying within our identities – the presence of the Spirit and a common Lord that brings us into community with one another.
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The session with Jeff, the conference pastor of the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference was really good. His presentation of a “Theology of L.A.” was focused and insightful. Amazingly, the theological and practical points which he outlined really are not all that different than what I would have expected from any Anabaptist church worth its salt. What was different was the intentionality with which this conference and the individual church have seemed to embrace and commit themselves in action to these points. As with the Early Church it feels very much like we are coming back to the realization that the future of the church and where the greatest need lies is within the troubled urban landscapes of our own cities. The world has come to our doors and lives in our neighborhood. What remains to be seen is whether we are willing to dismantle the fences between our communities which create barriers to relationship and entering into community with one another.
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Jan 6. - Sunday
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First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME)– I loved the passion and energy with which this congregation worships. It was an experience that I would gladly live out on a regular basis. The music, though enthusiastic certainly had a creedal quality to it in that it was directly reinforcing the nature, character, and action of God in the believer’s life. The contrast between the joy expressed in the service and even in the liturgy with the actual content of the liturgy about the wrath of God and the failings of humanity was interesting. Another aspect of the worship which caught my attention was the tendency for the music to be presented in a call-response format. My hunch is that this is due to the historical way in which songs were taught and a general lack of literacy within the African-American population historically.
The sermon at FAME was definitely focused on the theme of empowerment, successful living, and being lifted out of a disadvantaged position. It was troubling to me that the only scripture cited for the message was never exegeted nor exposited upon, but only used as the touchstone for the social self-help lesson that followed. It was good material – just not really biblical. During the communion service, the order of participation struck me – first the trustees and leaders of the church participated and then the congregation came forward beginning with those at the rear of the sanctuary. I don’t know whether this was intentional but I thought it was great to see the “last” be served “first”. My heart was uplifted by worship at FAME and I found myself repeatedly wiping tears from my cheeks. The warm hospitality made me truly feel that I, a white outsider, really could belong there.
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All Saints Episcopal / Hollywood– the utter silence with which the service began could not have been a greater contrast from the service at FAME. I had known that All Saints was affirming of gays and lesbians and was not really bothered by it – I thought. I was surprised though by my internal reaction when I realized that several of the couples sitting around us were gay. Instead of entering the worship as I had at FAME I was instead working through judgmental thoughts cropping up within me. Maybe the issue is that my contact with those in the gay community has mostly been with those who have very little interest in the church. At any rate, I did not feel that I could participate in communion with this going on within me – not because gays were taking communion but because something within me was out of line.
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Norton Simon Art Museum – While the paintings and sculptures were beautiful and their history and context were very interesting, I kept feeling drawn to go outside and stand in the rain amidst the fallen leaves and marvel at the beauty there. While I enjoyed the art I don’t think I was impressed. Maybe it is because the replication of beauty in whatever form – nature scenes, human movement and expression, abstract / impression / realism is still a replication of something infinitely more beautiful and also “real”.
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The Indian statues and artifacts in the lower level were uncomfortable for me. While they may be stone or metal – they still represent a spiritual reality and perspective which I found oppressive and troubling for my spirit. In particular, the statue of the goddess of death provoked a desire within me to destroy it. (of course I wouldn’t) But the fear and destruction and misery which that image represented were offensive to my spirit which desires for all to know shalom and reconciliation and hope.
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Mosaic Youth Church at Mayan Nightclub – Loud. It was interesting that God was not mentioned at all for the first twenty minutes. I also was a bit puzzled by the lack of a welcome or introduction to the evening. In some ways it felt like I was back at a slightly edgier version of FAME – the songs talked about personal betterment - much like the morning’s message had. However, when Erwin spoke , the directness of his message and the clear presentation of the gospel were inspiring. I wanted to give the guy an honorary Mennonite badge or something. The setting of the nightclub really was not noticeable other than the massive Mayan idols carved on the walls… but once the service began, I really felt like I was just in an informal church setting.
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Jan. 7 - Monday
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LA County Morgue / Crematorium – I was moved by the respect and care with which Craig approached his work in cremating these bodies. This man’s approach is as much a ministry as the chaplain’s. In my own experience with my faith community cremation has always been seen as a lesser option to burial. Seeing the bone ashes left behind though helped me to realize that cremation does not destroy the body but merely hastens the process of returning to the dust from which we came. When the drawer of envelopes containing the remains of babies was opened, something moved within me. Seeing all these lives that not only had ended too early, but that had also been left unclaimed, unloved seemed tragic to me. This crematorium experience has reinforced for me the banality of death – while tragic, while emotional, while difficult to accept in many circumstances – we all die. Old people die, babies die.
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USC Medical Center - The incredible heart which Chaplain Manley exhibited in the short time we spent with him was truly inspiring. He affirmed, encouraged, and supported each person I saw him come into contact with. It was also meaningful to hear him attribute his longevity to the support he receives from his spouse. I loved what the social worker Charmaine said about her work not being work but her calling. That echoed deep within me. Even when we face overwhelming and endless tasks – the calling of being in that moment as the light of Christ gives shape and meaning and joy to it.
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First Evangelical Free Church – I found the beautiful murals in the midst of a challenging neighborhood to be inspiring and uplifting. I wish that I was part of a more expressive – visually or any other way – culture rather than the reserved conservatism which I grew up in. Those images were like a gauntlet that has been thrown down in the face of overwhelming odds to say here we stand – though we cannot prevent the destruction of our families, our security, our lives, we can bear witness to our belief in hope and a future. I greatly admire Pastor Moore. To spend one’s life in a community with a heart to bring the gospel and transformation to people’s lives at such personal cost is a testament to the depth of his faith in his calling. I often question whether I am willing to follow such a path myself. The costs, especially the costs to my family – my wife, my children – really give me pause though I have this nagging sense that this path is one which I may likely be called to walk as well.
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