reyes-chow :: FAITH

There worst vacationer ever!

[What was that building again?]

Okay, so I have a distinctive style of vacationing.  Unlike SOME PEOPLE who like to cram as much stuff into a vacation itinerary as possible, I fully dive into doing nothing and simply absorb the local feel.  And if that lands me in a local cafe with a good book, so be it.  Yes, I can ALWAYS sit in a cafe at home, but then I wouldn't be in _________ doing it, now would I?!?!?  In any case, one of the downfalls of my particular vacationing method, is that I get back from the time and have no idea of the actually places I have been or sites I have seen.  I once returned from a trip to Europe only to give my presentation to a church's senior group by playing the, "What's this famous site?" game as I flipped through my slides.  I would put up some picture of a clock, they would scream, out "Big Ben!" and I would say, "You are right!"

This time I shall not be so blatant in my attempt to help name the places I visited.  So, I will fess, up.  I was able to take a day for sightseeing on a recent trip to Chicago and took some great pics.  Only problem, is that I don't remember most of them.  So, feel free to look at the pics on FLICKR and if you recognize anything, feel free to leave a comment.

Really . . . this guy?

Sure, I am the moderator in which some some circles it means something and there is some PR that comes with the territory.  But for those of you who really know me, I am really just another yahoo trying to follow his faith as best he can.  That's why when I see stuff like this, I just giggle to myself.  Don't worry, I do not believe the hype.   Still, if you are in the Chicago area that week, come on by and lets talk church!

Four reasons why Cleveland does indeed Rock

Yes, I know. The "Cleveland Rocks" reference is pretty easy, but hey, like I keep telling folks, I am just NOT that creative.  In any case, after hanging out in Pittsburgh for a bit, my journey took me to Cleveland where I again was introduced to a great city, connected with old friends and was touched by some uber-cool God stuff.

And while driving back and forth from the Eastside to the Westside about a bazzilion times was certainly a highlight, here are my TOP FOUR Cleveland memories in no particular order:

The Pheonix Project // Spent some time with the folks at this new church development and I must say, wow.  While still small in number they are mighty in passion, focus and commitment.  These folks are reaching people where they are and clearly the group is forming some bonds that are living witness to the healing nature of Christian community.

Sokolowskis University Inn // After this wonderfully authentic experience of the eyes, ears and stomach, you will get a taste of Cleveland in all it's starchy - but yummy - glory!  Tastes like Cleveland.  In a good way. 

Indians v. A's // Just so happened that my beloved Oakland A's were in town to play the Cleveland Indians.  And while I do love baseball, I admit that there was a little guilt about supporting the team that still does not see the why the whole Chief Wahoo thing really does need to change.

Presbytery of the Western Reserve // On Monday I was invited to be a part of a series of coffee talks that the Presbytery had been having on New Church Development.  Previous folks had been Karen Ward from Church of the Apostles in Seattle as well as Joy Douglas Strome from Lakeview Presbyterian in Chicago so these folks are not playing around.  Good coffee and conversation at Trinity Commons.  Despite some of the other turmoil taking place in the presbytery, I sensed a real hopefulness and openness to what might/could be.

Thanks to the Presbytery of the Western Reserve, Kerri, Francis and Jeff for inviting me to hang out, listen and talk.  I learned a great deal about this part of the country that made real the unique and common realities of God and community.  Thanks!

Let me just say this about Pittsburgh

As some of you know I have been in Pittsburgh the past few days as part of my Moderator adventure.  It has been a great joy hanging out with friends, seeing some sights and talking with people about their hopes for the future of the church.  I'll do a longer recap on the other blog, but here are at least four reasons you should visit Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Project - All I can say is WOWZA!  What a gem and witness in the community.  The programs are too numerous to name: home repair, after school services, park renovation, and the Mosaic Church Community.  I was most impressed with the bold way in which they have simple done what needed to be done and just done it.  What a  powerful model and approach to ministry.

The Open Door - What a wonderful community.  While I was not able to be at MBCC this Sunday, it felt like home: sacred space, a casual feel and just a tad of snark.    BJ Woodworth and the crew are being and doing some good stuff there.  This Sunday was the monthly potluck and sharing of gifts.  There as a great dance of the liturgical variety - not a big fan, but this was AWESOME - as well as some moving readings and and music. 

Pirates Game - PNC park is a great baseball park.  Great seats, good food (see below) and the best part was the HUGE Pirates fan sitting right in front of us razzing the Atlanta outfielder and saying how loved one of the PNC attendants.  Second only to that were the Atalanta businessmen sitting in back of us trying to remember the words to Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper Delight . . . and then singing it.  Classic.

Primanti Brothers - Dude, seriously, I think I will be digesting that Pitts-Burgher Cheese Steak for the next month.  A couple of thoughts about this full-on comfort food sandwich.  One, apparently according to Marnie, "It just tastes like Pittsburgh."  And, I think the memory of eating it is far more enjoyable that the actual sandwich.  I suspect that every time I get hungry, I'll thinking, "Hmmmm Primanti would be good right now."  And THAT is what comfort food should be. 

And the best reason to visit the 'Burg is to hang out with uber cool Marnie and Derrick Weston.  Thanks for the hospitality.  It was great fun!

Really CHILLING in Chicago

Rainy and Cold is not the way to win me over, not like Chicago is trying to win me over.  Still, so many folks LOVE this city and I have not spent a great deal of time here so hoping to discover the joy that is Chi-town.

After actually making my flight on American Airlines despite the day's developments, I traveled a PACKED red-eye and landed about 5:20am. Cab ride good.  McCormick Theological Seminary Housing good.  Rain and Cold, bad. 

I had a few hours after my nap to grab lunch and get a little work done before meeting up with some friends.  I ventured out into Hyde Park with my first stop to buy an umbrella.  Pained me to buy a cheapy when I knew my uber-awesome one was at home pining to be used.

Lunch at this great little Greek diner, Solonica's, and then off to seek a place to hang out.  I was a little surprised at the lack of coffee shops around here considering the number of institutions of higher education.  Passing one Starbucks, a local guided me to Third World Cafe where I have parked for most of the day. 

I have a few friends here that have graciously arrange some listening events as part of my moderator thang. Today I'll be hanging out an event put on by the Asian American Discipleship for Vocational Empowerment, Nurture and Transformatin (AADVENT), meet up with some local church people at the ecumenical campus ministry Agape House and then get together with Nanette Sawyer of Wicker Park Grace.  Tomorrow I will speak at a  the Center for Asian American Ministries a program of McCormick Theological Seminary.  I'll be talking about being a racial ethnic pastor serving a congregation that is not a traditionally racial ethnic community.  See Does Race Matter When Pastoring?

I will probably not have much free time on this trip, but if you have some places I might want to try and go to, please feel free to let me know and I try to make it on this or the next visit.

Adventures of a semi-vacation

Today we are leaving for Disneyland.

No, you are not crazy . . . we were JUST there.

We return this time with my mom, step-pop and niece, Ava!  That mean momz will have all four of her grandbabies with her.  Hopefully she will get all weepy with joy while we are standing line.  How embarrassing ;-)

I thought about not bringing my computer and totally unplugging, but then figured, "yeah right" it's not like I am going on some outbound mission trip or hiking in some backwoods part of the world.  We are going to have to google some directions at some point for gosh darn sake.  More justification you ask?  I also didn't want to go through that freak-out stressful time before going on vacation.  I have a few things to do for church, but would rather just take a few minutes on Wednesday PM to take care of them rather than cram one more thing into the prep day.  Yeah, I'm hooked.  But in a good way ;-)

I'll probably blog a bit here over the week, but will mostly sit back, relax and be further sucked into the evil empire we know as Disney.

And the reading list for this trip:

• Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
• Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business
• The Overlook

Too much time on my hands

This trip to the Kansas City area was weird.  Unlike my last trip and most that are coming up, I was based in one place and there was a good deal of down time.  I had significant time to be on my own, to take some time to rest and even sleep a full night.  Rough I know.

Still, the trip reminded me of a few things:

1. I like hanging with my family.  I thought about all these place to go, but then realized that it would be more fun with the crew.  When I am back in SF, I hang at coffee shops to get outside of the rest of my life, but where the rest of my life is absent, it is just not the same.
2. With more time does not come more efficiency.  Like I said, I had these blocks of time, didn't really get anything done.  Yeah, I know one does not NEED to be efficient all the time, but it would be nice to know that I got a few things done with some of the extra time.  I am not on vacation for gosh sakes.  With me, I am either on vacation and or working.  Limbo, this was.
3. Talking about life, faith, culture and church give me energy.  Some great people here in the Kansas City area.  I think I would like to come back when all that white stuff is gone, snow that is.  You can see more about the conversations here, Reflections from the Heartland.
4. I totally want to come back here when it is not snowing and I can catch a Royals game.

In the mean time, here are the things I have Yelped about while here, because when all else fails, you can call for Yelp ;-)

• Heartland Center
• Magazines and Coffee
• Caribou Coffee
• Homer's Coffee House
• Southminster Presbyterian Church
• First Presbyterian Church of Liberty
• Parkville Presbyterian Church
• The Power Plant Restaurant
• Central Presbyterian Church
• Lucky Brewgrille
• Village Presbyterian Church
• Dos Reales Restaurant
• Gates BBQ

Toto, we're not . . . hey wait, we are in Kansas

Well, actually I am in Missouri, but I couldn't resist the easy cultural reference.  Thanks to friend and colleague in ministry, Jeff Light, who directs the Heartland Presbyterian Center, I am spending some time hanging out with folks and talking about church stuff.  But I digress . . .

Here is what I have discovered this far . . .

Snow and Ice are pretty from inside a warm and toasty retreat center room.  This is a picture from my room.

Airport travel can bring out the best and worst of people.  Enough said.

Packed red-eye flights suck.

Getting upgraded to first class rocks.

Boys, just because we can, please stop answering the phone while at the stall.  Seriously.  If it would not have been inappropriate - and difficult to do -  I would have taken a picture of this dude that answered his phone while, well you know.  Nice.

I miss my girls.

Did I mention it was cold?  It is.

Youth Group, Preaching and Dopplr

Last night was the launching of MBCC's new youth group.  We have a five 5th-6th graders and figured it was time.   As I dropped my eldest child off, I told her that I was more excited than her and maybe I should go too.  With the rolling of her eyes and poke on the shoulder she squealed, "Daaaaaaaad, noooooooo, you can't come to youth group!"  And then she smiled.  She was excited.

It seems that it was not long ago that I was on the other end of this tradition.  Parents dropping the kids off at youth group, trusting that these folks could do justice to God's spiritual claim on their lives.  What an amazing privilege and honor it is to help raise generation after generation in the faith.  Such a great time of movement for our family, MBCC and E.

And then there was the beginning of Advent.  I am not preaching until the 23rd with other folks from MBCC helping the community get into the Word.  Yesterday was our Worship Arts Coordinator, Tiffany Flaming, next week Intern, Nick Larson is on and then on the 16th, Parish Associate, Leslie Veen.  We do a pretty good job at modeling a diversity of voices here at MBCC and I am only in the "pulpit" about 30-34 times a year.  I must admit though that I love and yearn for opportunities to help guide the a group of folks in the engagement of the Word.  I don't think I am the only one that can/should be there, but I do love it.  Advent this year at MBCC has brought about a new level of activity as well: weekly Advent art group, Advent meditation group and this great banner and wreath (below) created by our other intern Abigail King Kaiser.  What a privilege it is to be in ministry with these folks!

And last but not least, if you are looking for yet more things to join in on, Rohit Bhargava, social networking expert and new dad, has started a pretty cool Facebook Group, Bloggers Who Like to get Beta Testing Invites, where you can get in on some of the newer beta sites.  I have received a couple of invites and am intrigued by www.dopplr.com especially with the whole moderator possibility looming in the future.  If you want a dopplr invite invite just leave a comment with your eMail and I'll send one your way.

And now for the Advent photos: