September 3, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
We missed the dates (the fruit). Los Angeles Times carried a whole page special report on “A Ramadan date
dilemma”, August 18, pointing out that harvesting stars in September, but this year Ramadan begins earlier. From
time to time through the evening I was wondering about if we gonna have dates. We did not.
Jenny and I still had a wonderful time, however, with our Turkish hosts in Westwood last Thursday. With other
pastors and their wives and colleagues from our synod, we joined Bishop and Mrs. Nelson and our hosts at Pacifica
Institute for an Iftar dinner, the first meal of its kind for many of us. An Arabic word, Iftar refers to the evening meal
when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Listening to our hosts, sharing our story, and
getting to know these new friends brought back many fond memories to Jenny when she did her Islamic studies with
Professor Woodberry at Fuller.
It's an eye-opening experience for me. Meeting with people and communicating with one another face to face, I learnt
a whole lot that I did not get in my reading and research. Despite our differences in religion, we share a lot of things
in common. We are both interested in food, family and children, freedom, and a just and peaceful world. If we can
dialogue with civility and respect, we will be able to, as Bishop Nelson shared, reach a deeper level and talk about
true compassion and love and faith.
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (1 Peter 2:17). As I ponder implications of the
biblical mandate in a world marked by religious plurality, I often think of those who are different from us, “whom the
LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine
inheritance” (Isaiah 19:25). Extending Ramadan hospitality, sharing a meal together could be a starting point of a
long and delightful journey of conversation, exchange, understanding, and friendship.
What is next? As I thought about our host’s remarks, “our world is incomplete without friends,” a long-standing
Chinese slogan came to mind: qiu tong cun yi, which means “Seeking the common ground, while reserving
differences.” It shed much light on the path where we “depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it”
(Psalm 34:14). Maybe many need to polish their theology a bit before they can have a sense of confidence and a
measure of comfort to try out the approach. Inter-religious dialogue is such a time to be honest with our theology. Is
yours in good shape?
In God’s grace,
Pastor Frank
Dear Family and Friends,
We missed the dates (the fruit). Los Angeles Times carried a whole page special report on “A Ramadan date
dilemma”, August 18, pointing out that harvesting stars in September, but this year Ramadan begins earlier. From
time to time through the evening I was wondering about if we gonna have dates. We did not.
Jenny and I still had a wonderful time, however, with our Turkish hosts in Westwood last Thursday. With other
pastors and their wives and colleagues from our synod, we joined Bishop and Mrs. Nelson and our hosts at Pacifica
Institute for an Iftar dinner, the first meal of its kind for many of us. An Arabic word, Iftar refers to the evening meal
when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Listening to our hosts, sharing our story, and
getting to know these new friends brought back many fond memories to Jenny when she did her Islamic studies with
Professor Woodberry at Fuller.
It's an eye-opening experience for me. Meeting with people and communicating with one another face to face, I learnt
a whole lot that I did not get in my reading and research. Despite our differences in religion, we share a lot of things
in common. We are both interested in food, family and children, freedom, and a just and peaceful world. If we can
dialogue with civility and respect, we will be able to, as Bishop Nelson shared, reach a deeper level and talk about
true compassion and love and faith.
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (1 Peter 2:17). As I ponder implications of the
biblical mandate in a world marked by religious plurality, I often think of those who are different from us, “whom the
LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine
inheritance” (Isaiah 19:25). Extending Ramadan hospitality, sharing a meal together could be a starting point of a
long and delightful journey of conversation, exchange, understanding, and friendship.
What is next? As I thought about our host’s remarks, “our world is incomplete without friends,” a long-standing
Chinese slogan came to mind: qiu tong cun yi, which means “Seeking the common ground, while reserving
differences.” It shed much light on the path where we “depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it”
(Psalm 34:14). Maybe many need to polish their theology a bit before they can have a sense of confidence and a
measure of comfort to try out the approach. Inter-religious dialogue is such a time to be honest with our theology. Is
yours in good shape?
In God’s grace,
Pastor Frank
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| Columns Section: 世紀網站專欄區 世纪网站专栏区: 008-003 王浩 專欄 王浩 专栏 Pastor Frank Wang Column 作者：王浩 王浩 Pastor Frank Wang Frank's Monthly Pastoral: 2009 September: Ramadan Meal Pastoral |
