Meri and I can really relate to the story of Abram and Sarai, to whom the LORD said, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you… I will bless you… and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1,2). 

God mentioned people in the new land would both curse them and bless them (verse 3).  That their life in the new land would be strange and difficult was implied in the call.  But just how difficult and how strange would it be there?  Abram and Sarai could not have fathomed all the miracles, joys and hardships their new life would entail, or even that the way they identify themselves would be forever changed.  God simply called Abram and Sarai to be His people, He let them know the implications, and He allowed them to discover the rest along the way. 

I believe God has done the same with my family.  When He prompted us to move into the city to be a blessing, we didn’t know much about this “new land” or life.  In His wisdom, He revealed just enough.

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I get asked this question from Christian college students stressing about where they will live and work.  They’ve never had to make a decision like this before and they don’t want to mess it up.  “How did you know this is what God wanted you to do?” they ask. 

In our case it was love, not a strategy, that motivated us to move to Hollywood.  In the beginning we had no idea it was about starting new churches.  At the time God was calling us into a lifestyle, not a program or ministry or job.  We were learning that Jesus cares about the lost and hurting, the poor and oppressed.  We wanted to care about what’s important to Him.  We realized that for us it was going to mean living among the urban poor and showing people what Jesus is like by our love.  Other than that, we didn’t know what the heck we were doing. 

But enough about us.  What is love motivating you to do?  What would you need to sacrifice to honor King Jesus in this way?  What difference could it make if you act on this?  What’s at stake if you don’t?

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Here is a photo of the view my wife saw everyday when she was growing up in rural New York, where there are more cows than people.  The view from her front yard:

And here is a photo of the California desert at the edge of the town where my mother raised my sister and me:

When Meredith and I graduated from college and got married we decided to live in the city of Los Angeles so she could pursue a career in acting and I was going to be a school teacher.  At the time we had no idea God had other plans for us here. 

What a difference in views…

Has God brought you to a place you never expected to live?  Why do you think He has brought you there?

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A murder-suicide happened a very brief walk away from us last night (news reporters incorrectly identified the community as Silver Lake… it’s East Hollywood).  We didn’t know the family.  Such a tragedy.

http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=84169@kcbs.dayport.com (Fri night report)

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“How much do you make per month?”

“How much do you pay for rent?” 

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked this in our part of the city. 

In the suburbs where I grew up, where people’s struggles were mostly kept hush-hush, it was culturally inappropriate to ask someone this stuff.  It’s the financial equivalent of asking a woman, “How much do you weigh?”  You just don’t ask!

After living among the urban poor in Los Angeles for over a decade, I’ve learned it is culturally okay to ask people how much they earn and pay for rent.  And with the economy the way it is, I imagine it’s even more okay! 

Well, I can’t speak for everyone here of course, but let me put it this way.  A whole LOTTA people are perfectly fine with asking each other this stuff! 

I’ve learned not to be offended or judge.  99% of the time people aren’t being rude or nosy.  They are helping each other survive.  The idea is that if a neighbor asks you how much you get paid per hour, then he can tell you whether or not you’d make more money working for his boss.  Or if you ask your neighbor how much she pays for rent, then you can know whether or not you’re getting a good deal at your place, and if you should ask if there are vacancies in her apartment building.   

It seems like privacy gets defined differently when a community is feeling desperate to make ends meet and actually cares about helping each other.  I don’t always like having to answer the questions, but I like the intentions behind them.  I give praise to my community for this openness that is second-nature to them and foreign to me.  Some kinds of privacy are over-rated. 

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Here is a comment I made on a blog by Wes Woodell about the pros and cons of not having a church building.  (To Wes: Thanks for letting me share my thoughts on your blog.  I’m encouraged by your big heart for God and the college students of San Francisco!)

http://missionalconversation.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/no-church-building-pros-and-cons-from-a-simple-church-planter/

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Police and news helicopters and airplanes are hovering and circling over our neighborhood right now.  Crowds of people are marching just blocks away from our apartment to protest the passage of Proposition 8, which makes gay-marriage unconstitutional.  Police estimate the crowd at 12,500 protesters.

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