Comments on: Rite of passage, South Central style http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/ Erika Carney Haub's musings on life and God from South Central, L.A. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:35:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: erika http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-121096 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:40:28 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-121096 Marlena, I am glad you stumbled our way! That sounds like a fascinating (and I would think difficult) venture: to church-plant in a neighborhood where one does not live. I would be curious to hear more about it! Marlena,

I am glad you stumbled our way!

That sounds like a fascinating (and I would think difficult) venture: to church-plant in a neighborhood where one does not live. I would be curious to hear more about it!

]]> by: erika http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-121092 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:35:16 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-121092 Tom, And I am glad you keep reading and sharing your thoughts along the way... Doug and I are a pretty good example of the Yin and Yang of things...we were the couple who basically failed the compatibility tests in pre-marital counseling due to our marked differences in personality :) And maybe we will actually meet in person one of these days! Tom,

And I am glad you keep reading and sharing your thoughts along the way…

Doug and I are a pretty good example of the Yin and Yang of things…we were the couple who basically failed the compatibility tests in pre-marital counseling due to our marked differences in personality :)

And maybe we will actually meet in person one of these days!

]]> by: Marlena Graves http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120949 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:33:51 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120949 Hi Erika, I just stumbled across your blog and I found it quite interesting. We just moved and started attending a three year old urban church plant. We discovered that none of the church leaders (or most parishioners)live in the city. I am certain its because of the reasons you described in your ice cream truck account. My husband and I are taking a look at ourselves to see where God would have us minister. Thank you. Hi Erika,

I just stumbled across your blog and I found it quite interesting. We just moved and started attending a three year old urban church plant. We discovered that none of the church leaders (or most parishioners)live in the city. I am certain its because of the reasons you described in your ice cream truck account. My husband and I are taking a look at ourselves to see where God would have us minister.
Thank you.

]]> by: julia http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120556 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:10:52 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120556 do you ever notice you never see a NEW ice cream truck? weird. do you ever notice you never see a NEW ice cream truck? weird.

]]> by: Kacie http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120386 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:52:21 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120386 I don't know how high of a Mexican population you have in your area, but our old area in Chicago used to have Mexican guys come by with little carts selling homemade ice cream in flavors like mango, coconut, tamarindo, etc. If you EVER get the opportunity to, try their mango icecream bars. FANTASTIC. :) I don’t know how high of a Mexican population you have in your area, but our old area in Chicago used to have Mexican guys come by with little carts selling homemade ice cream in flavors like mango, coconut, tamarindo, etc. If you EVER get the opportunity to, try their mango icecream bars. FANTASTIC. :)

]]> by: Jamie Arpin-Ricci http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120321 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:47:22 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120321 When I consider out neighbourhood, with its own struggles with violence, drugs and racial tensions, I echo Doug's sentiments- we are saving this community. If anything, it is saving us, forcing us from the neutrality of our indifference to become part of a community that is rich in culture, history and purpose. Thanks for a great post, as alwasy, Erika! Peace, Jamie When I consider out neighbourhood, with its own struggles with violence, drugs and racial tensions, I echo Doug’s sentiments- we are saving this community. If anything, it is saving us, forcing us from the neutrality of our indifference to become part of a community that is rich in culture, history and purpose.

Thanks for a great post, as alwasy, Erika!

Peace,
Jamie

]]> by: Tom http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120021 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:33:32 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-120021 Your skill wielding words and obvious honesty keeps me reading. I appreciated Masaki's take, though. A lot of individuals and families who have lived in your context and contexts like it haven't experienced the same 'constant level of fear and tension" or anything like it. I don't know you personally so I'm not sure if you're the operatic yin to your husband's prosaic yang that Masaki seems to suggest. Lots of truth in every perspective. But I often hope that all of us yins and yangs can find a better balance in our witness while still staying true to character. Hard to do. But important, particularly if we're trying to encourage people to take risks and if we're attempting to help the 'haves' to lose their pernicious stereotypes of poor people. Your skill wielding words and obvious honesty keeps me reading.

I appreciated Masaki’s take, though.

A lot of individuals and families who have lived in your context and contexts like it haven’t experienced the same ‘constant level of fear and tension” or anything like it.

I don’t know you personally so I’m not sure if you’re the operatic yin to your husband’s prosaic yang that Masaki seems to suggest.

Lots of truth in every perspective.

But I often hope that all of us yins and yangs can find a better balance in our witness while still staying true to character. Hard to do. But important, particularly if we’re trying to encourage people to take risks and if we’re attempting to help the ‘haves’ to lose their pernicious stereotypes of poor people.

]]> by: Masaki http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-119948 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:44:00 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-119948 That is why I love both of you, because so many aspects of faith are both/and. Doug, of course, calls out the temptation to exoticize ministry in the "inner-city." And you, reminding us that nevertheless, it is like sheep being among wolves. Dangerous. Scary. That is why I love both of you, because so many aspects of faith are both/and.

Doug, of course, calls out the temptation to exoticize ministry in the “inner-city.”

And you, reminding us that nevertheless, it is like sheep being among wolves. Dangerous. Scary.

]]> by: sonja http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-119852 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:55:08 +0000 http://erika.haub.net/rite-of-passage-south-central-style/03/#comment-119852 Growing up out in the back of beyond, I only got have an ice cream truck when I visited my grandparents who lived in the city. So when my husband & I realized that the ice cream truck visited our townhouses regularly we were delighted. When our children were old enough, we allowed them that treat on occasion as well. We were horrified to discover, however, that so many of the children in our neighborhood were getting dinner from the truck. Night after night, the bag of chips or sweet confection was all the nutrition they'd get for the evening. At least, though, they could all play outside without fear of gunfire. Growing up out in the back of beyond, I only got have an ice cream truck when I visited my grandparents who lived in the city. So when my husband & I realized that the ice cream truck visited our townhouses regularly we were delighted. When our children were old enough, we allowed them that treat on occasion as well. We were horrified to discover, however, that so many of the children in our neighborhood were getting dinner from the truck. Night after night, the bag of chips or sweet confection was all the nutrition they’d get for the evening.

At least, though, they could all play outside without fear of gunfire.

]]>