This morning I received an email from our Senior Lead Officer about the spike in gang violence this past week. A conflict between the Rolling 20’s (the gang that runs our street and the blocks north of us) and the Rolling 30’s (recently named one of L.A.’s “Top Ten Most Dangerous Gangs”) who control the… Continue reading Forsaken
Category: Culture
In the world
Yesterday we went to the little park by our house. Mercy’s God-sister, Jessica, is here with us helping out for the week, and it was great to have the ability to get out of the house and to go outside and play. When we arrived at the park, we were greeted by the noise of… Continue reading In the world
Making sense of her world
Today at lunch, one of our good friends was over and he was joking with Doug about whether Doug was “Black” in his taste in suites (we will all be at a wedding tomorrow, and the two of them were discussing wardrobe choices). He also had a few amusing things to say about the ways… Continue reading Making sense of her world
Whose minister?
I always appreciate the things that William Willimon has to say, be they in his books, sermons, or now on his blog. In fact, of all the people that Doug has the opportunity to correspond with and meet in his position at Fuller, it was Willimon who I got most excited about (he is coming… Continue reading Whose minister?
The cost of a half-embrace
As I have mentioned here already, I am currently restricted from picking up my two children due to recovery from abdominal surgery. When I first received this mandate, my primary concern was logistical: how will we do meals and naps and how will we go outside to play? Those logistics remain challenging, but what has… Continue reading The cost of a half-embrace
Being honest
It is an interesting thing I have learned about myself the last few years: the needier I feel, the stingier I become. I wrote about this in one of my earlier blog entries, and as much as I have repented of this and prayed for a new heart in this area, I still struggle. Clearly,… Continue reading Being honest
Ears to hear
There was deep concern these past few days for a few members of my denomination who were in the Congo during the recent eruption of violence there. It was with great relief and thanks to God that we heard yesterday that the two who were in the greatest danger had in fact boarded a plane… Continue reading Ears to hear
Quotation of the Week
“This is another reason that living in proximity to those we are seeking to build relationships is so crucial. However, acknowledging this we need to recognize that, unlike most of the world, we have the freedom to choose where we live. Therefore, we need to be mindful of God’s direction in that freedom, submitting it… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
Home ownership
Doug and I (and half of L.A.) wish that we could afford to purchase a home. Real estate is out of control, even in our neighborhood, and the recent price tags I have heard for homes in our neighborhood are $800,000 and $1.2 million. Our neighborhood is made up largely of these big, at one… Continue reading Home ownership
Inspiration
My friend, Tyler Watson, linked to a phenomenal story last week of a ninety-seven year old woman who was being honored by Poland’s Parliament for her role in rescuing thousands of Jewish children during the Holocaust. As I read her story, I was struck by the raw courage demonstrated by this woman in her lifetime,… Continue reading Inspiration