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From: eric
Date: Thu Jan 29 20:38:48 MST 2004 Subject: Emerging Church

I recently finished a book entitled: The Church in Emerging Culture. Near the end Erwin Raphael McManus makes a statement about himself that really rings true for me, and I would like to share it with you.

At the time I was writing this I heard that Len Sweet, in his introduction, had chosen a naturalist metaphor for each of us and that he had dubbed my position "the park." I shared with Len my great disdain for this metaphor. Don't give me a park. Give me a jungle instead. My position is all about thriving on the dangerous edge. The Scriptures provide us the tools with which we can thrive as we brave the harsh elements. Culture is neither our enemy nor our friend -- it's simply our context. We are naturalists who know how to extract the good from the poison. We discard all that is not essential for our journey and hold on to that which is primal. We reject the park for the jungle -- and the deepest jungle we can find.
The deepest jungle I could find is Los Angeles. I choose to live in L.A. I choose to live here with my wife, Kim, and to raise our children here. While it seems others would describe the place as a cultural cesspool, I see it as a place where Jesus would choose to be. --Erwin McManus

Certainly Tucson is not L.A., and it is probably a minor jungle in comparison to the cultural issues of the Los Angeles area - but Tucson is no park. It is a dark place. Tucson is where you go to run from your problems. Those who are more sensitive to the spiritual realm will often tell you about the darkness that they feel every time they enter Tucson. Most of the schools are not good places to send your children. The economy is always poorer than that of the rest of the nation. The Church is a collection of small ghettos that trade residents every few years. Yes, a few strangers do find their way in to the church, but it really is rare. Like Erwin, I choose to live here with my wife, and to raise my children here. I choose to believe that Tucson is not hopeless. I am happy to live in this time and place, and I believe that Jesus will and can change Tucson.

Pator Eric

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