For the record, we will not be going to the big party on the Golden Gate Bridge to celebrate its 75th Birthday. While I am sure it will be great fun, it’s going to be crazy crowded. We are your typical San Francisco locals: it took us 14 years to visit Alcatraz, our kids have only been on a Cable car a few times, and, yes, we love mocking shivering tourists who think California = warm. Still, the Golden... Read more
This week I received a funding solicitation email from a conservative Christian organization with the following justification for their plea for support: . . . the church is being marginalized by a culture that is increasingly accepting homosexuality and same-sex marriage . . . While I don’t want to deny that groups such as this are feeling marginalized, I argue that what is being experienced is not marginalization, but the repercussions of new reality of their influence and dominance on larger cultural conversations and direction setting. Society... Read more
One of the reasons that I am so committed to community: church, family, school, etc. is because I don’t believe we can move forward in healthy ways unless we understand our past. No, this is not a new concept, but it seems that many conversations about innovation, creativity and growth are void of and understanding of and grappling with our shared past. In our instant-gratification, speed-obsessed and conflict-avoiding culture we too easily skip over important parts of building and being community and fail to build foundations that... Read more
[Photo By davidz] Every time I blog about homosexuality and the church, I get at least one email or comment that says that I am either wasting my time or sowing dissent. As a straight, married, Asian American Presbyterian, I agree . . . this is getting old. I dread the fact that issues of gender, race, economics and sexuality are still issues that the church must struggle with in order to fully be who I hope the church to be. And... Read more
[Photo By Per Ola Wiberg ~ Powi] It seems as though the national media as well as my own denomination has been absent of any major “sex scandals” as of late. Sure, the cynical part of me knows that it’s only a matter of time before the next shocker, but the the ever-hopeful part of me believes that from generation to generation, those in religious positions of leadership do learn and can change for the better. That said, I know of... Read more
Well apparently Landon Whitsitt and crew did not get the memo that paper is dead 😉 So why the heck did I just donate a little bank to help kickstart this new quarterly magazine? Because I have a heart for people leaping out in faith in order to change the world for the better and PLGRM sounds freaking awesome. PLGRM . . . is a quarterly magazine – which WILL be published in electronic and paper form – that explores the... Read more
[Photo by Maja Larsson ] I remember during the early days of planting the church that I pastored for 12 years. While I loved the work, there were stressors everywhere. Anxiety inducing questions arose all the time: “Would anyone show up?” “Would they stay if they did come?” and “Who’s going to make the coffee?” By far, though, the hardest question to deal with was, “What happens when someone leaves?” Like most new church planting pastors, when someone chose to leave, no matter... Read more
[Photo by OliBac] ONE | Other than through personal relationships and/or from one White guy to another, I am not sure there will ever be a good way to talk about and unpack the dreaded P-word, Privilege. So while way outside of the scope of this old school Galaga boy’s gaming world, I found this post from a, ” . . . white guy who likes women,” John Scalzi, interesting: Straight White Male, The Lowest Diffiuclty Setting There Is. TWO | When people ask me, “How many... Read more
A few weeks ago, Connie Lum contacted me on Facebook letting me know about her nephew and her work around mental health issues. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I “sat down” and asked her a few questions about herself, her nephew and the Justice for Jeremy Project. Here are her responses: Who is Connie Lum Perez? By profession, I’m an early childhood educator with more than 30 years experience. My day job as a preschool owner/director is very rewarding and gives me opportunities to impact... Read more
For you Presbyterians out there, admit it, you know you are getting all excited about our upcoming General Assembly (July, 2012) just around the corner in Pittsburgh. The exhibit hall schwag, the stylish local host aprons and the endless arguing over what word works best: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet or So (FANBOYS). Yes, we Presbyterians know how to party like it’s 1955. In all seriousness, while there is much to critique my denominational family concerning a great many things, there is a... Read more
Bruce Reyes-Chow
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