Monday Post

This morning began by correcting a few blocks of my prior steps during my prior day’s walk. The streets split without my knowledge and I was slated to walk down inner city Main Street so I could pass by the former site of the Peniel Street Mission where the impasse between the holiness and Pentecostal denominations occurred. The event that sparked this major division within the church arose when Phineas F. Bresee removed Mr. Seymour from the pulpit for speaking in tongues. The church-at-large of all denominations would experience the troubled waters between different groups for more than a hundred years into the future.

Next, I moved on toward 312 Azusa Street where the great revival in early 1900 occurred. Leaving Azusa Street, passed by large churches surrounded by unfriendly fences sending more of a message of fortification, than the invitation of God’s love. I continued down first street passing by the Japanese American museum in little Tokyo observing how the entire culture had changed again in a matter of blocks. I was blessed to find a combination church street mission who left their doors open throughout the day for local people to enter, use restrooms, and get a message of “welcome.” I was glad to see some people still trust God to protect what He has entrusted to their care to communicate love over temporal things. From there, I proceeded out of inner city LA toward Alhambra watching ethnic groups and their combinations change. In comparison to the Pacific NW, ethic group combinations that do not blend well there…readily live and cooperate with each other in downtown LA. As I entered Alhambra, ethnicity changed again. I found graffiti everywhere I turned revealing both talent and disrespect. People were warm, kind, and helpful. Notice local business sign “Shalom Tires”…God smiled! I journey is proving to be both enlightening and enjoyable in a matter of the first few days. Scored 6 pounds of fresh nuts from Superior Nut Company…great folks. Made my arms tired carrying them for 3 1/2 miles. Beautiful weather. Greg…