UPDATE on August 17, 2012 – The WGF folks have extended my 15% discount code until Midnight on August 29th, so if you are still deciding if this is an event to attend, there is still time to get a little break on the registration fee. Register here: Wild Goose Ticket Website and use the code, WILDBRC (all caps). UPDATE on August 12, 2012 – If it helps give you a sense of the kinds of things that are going at Wild Goose, here are two draft descriptions of... Read more
1/ONE – Recently my wife and I have gotten seriously hooked on Rev., a dramedy from the BBC. Rev. is one of the best church based shows I have seen because it is clear that whoever is advising them knows what it is like to pastor a small urban church today. From the neighboring “hip” church that tries to take over the dying church to the struggles of the pastor to have any friends, the humor is both stinging and hilarious. Season 1... Read more
This morning, my family engaged in one of our all-time favorite activities, watching the United States Women’s National Soccer Team play. Today we cheered on from our living-from the United States as they beat North Korea 1-0 in the first round of 2012 Olympic play. Watching the USWNT play over the past few years has been one of the most powerful and important things my daughters have experienced. The names Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Repinoe, Lauren Cheney and Carly... Read more
This week, I asked my sister-in-law if she would be willing to share a short reflection on gun violence. As you many of you know, nearly four years ago, my own family was impacted by gun violence when my wife’s brother was shot and killed. I was not sure if Carol would be ready to write about this – I believe this is her first public reflection – but after showing her a clip of a new documentary on gun... Read more
It’s been exactly one week since I blogged last. I wish that my break was because I am on a some kind of relaxing get-away, but alas, I am on Presbyterian Conference overdrive. Last week I was at the Presbyterian General Assembly in Pittsburgh, I then spent three days in Albuquerque and now I am at Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu for the 2012 Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference. 16 days on the road, at least I could be in a rock band... Read more
For those of you interested in the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), this morning, my friend and colleague, Tara Spuhler McCabe, resigned from the office of Vice-Moderator. The circumstances that lead to her decision are complex and real, but in all honesty, when I first heard of this, I was pretty angry that it had come to this. Soon I will reflect on the whole situation and implications for the church and our general assembly, but for now I... Read more
I am sure that when you read the title of this post, you filled in the blank with: fear ignorance hostility injustice distraction Jesus or beer Sure, there are individuals who might indeed warrant such descriptors, but might we be better served by filling in the blank with “faithfulness, conviction and grace?” As you some of you know, this week I am attending the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Pittsburgh. There will be many topics towards which we... Read more
Like many Presbyterians who rode down the escalators at the Pittsburgh airport, when I arrived last night, I was greeted by the, the familiar – and oh so stylish – sight of those Committee On Local Arrangements (COLA) PC(USA) seal-emblazoned aprons. Like the smell of fresh cookies or sizzling bacon wafting from the kitchen, it was a warm reminder what was to come. Yep, it’s General Assembly time – the 220th – for the Presbyterian Church (USA), my denominational family. In a... Read more
Sorry, I couldn’t resist the CNN dig.* I’m just bitter 😉 You see, today, my new book, The Definitive-ish Guide for Using Social Media in the Church, (Shook Foil Books) dropped on Amazon and iTunes and wouldn’t you know it, there was some decision made by some branch of the government that totally stole my thunder. In any case, you can now buy my first book on AMAZON for your Kindle, on Barnes and Noble for your nook or pre-order on iTunes. Also, as... Read more
I love politics. I grew up in Sacramento, CA running the halls of the State Capitol Building where my mother worked for various legislators for nearly 25 years. I still have aunts, uncles and friends who are heavily involved in politics and I have always believed that public service is honorable calling. The intricacies of the system, the importance of relationships, the development of strategies and the struggle to find common vision has always been inspiring and exciting to me. Sure, I lament the fact that... Read more
Bruce Reyes-Chow
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