Reyes Gibbs Blog

I'm a Christian too!

The best part about traveling is that I get so much to blog about.  Today I left the Oakland airport for Chicago to attend a consultation about 2nd generation Asian Americans & Latina/os in Ministry.  More about that in another blog but here is what I've experienced so far.

• "I'm at the airport.  I think I should tell you that there is a lot going on and I should have told you this before I left...."   I wanted to just stand there and listen but I thought better of it.  Boy, I probably missed a lot of good stuff!!!  But I am sure that others got the scoop.  Makes me wonder, what motivates people to tell the "bad" news over the phone.  I guess the word is "chicken."  Oh well..

• Did you know that you have to have shoes on to go to the bathroom on the airplane?   Yup, they make you go back to your seat and put your shoes on.  Okay it wasn't me!!! I'd never go into a public bathroom without shoes (sometimes my own bathroom but that' is another tale!).   There was a very long line to the bathroom.  I was standing behind a woman who didn't have shoes on.  She had socks on but no shoes.  So instead of making her go all the way back to her seat, I offered my sandals! i got them back when she came out!   My good deed for the day.

• My luck with cab drivers in Chicago has not been good.  So I've taken to mapquesting (is that the proper use of the verb "mapquest") my destination before leaving home so I could tell the drivers where to go.  So to my surprise, I got into a cab where the driver knew where McCormick Theological Seminary  was located, then...he told me..."I'm a Christian too!"  He then told me that he studied the Bible for his own personal education.   He asked me what year I was in Seminary.   Stupid me!  I told him I was a pastor from California.   The trip to the Seminary is usually about 20 minutes...this trip took forever!!   By the time I arrived, we talked about the Old Testament, Gay and Lesbians getting married, Jesus the troublemaker, let's see and the most interesting, he was comparing different translations of the Bible for his own personal education - The KJV, NKJV and the LT  I couldn't help myself. I told him that there are books that do that already and perhaps he could look at the NRSV, NIV or even maybe the NAB.  When he dropped me off, he thanked me for the conversation and was thankful God put me in his Cab.   I guess I was thankful too, he knew where I was going!!!

I'm staying in Catholic housing here, haven't seen my room yet, be expect Jesus to welcome me with arms outstretched ;)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today I celebrate my 59th birthday and I started it with having breakfast at McDonalds with my youngest grandchild, AVA .  As I strolled her to McDonalds I thanked God for my abundant blessings especially my children and grandchildren.   39 years agol and three weeks, I remember my first mistake as a mother.  Leaving Bruce on a chair and at three weeks old, who would have thought he would have rolled off, probably a sign that he would be a "mover" when he got older!.  All these years, and I still lament my lack of common sense then.   I am thankful that I have learned from my lack of common sense in the past so that I believe that I am much wiser. I still make mistakes but I don't put babies on chairs anymore!   Here are the pictures of my babies that keep me young!  I am thankful for their love and care!

Expectations!

In an earlier post, I told you all that I started an exercise program at Curves.   I've been going now for five months!!!! Almost every week, three times a week,  I owe it all to my good friend Jonelle who encourages me to go with her.   Exercise with a friend is the way to go! Curves recently changed their system so that a computer chip follows you around as you exercise!  At the end of the session, I know how many calories I expended, what parts of my body I didn't work out well, and where I need improvement.  This kind of feedback, I could do without.  I know its good for me but I tried real hard to meet my goals today and it didn't show up on the scores!!

The goals were set by me!  When I was being tested, I pushed myself and wanted to score high.  Little did I know that this scoring high, would push me beyond my heartbeats!!!  My expecations were higher than my physical capabilities.  And now everytime I exercise, I have to tell myself that I am not a failure that at least I am up and moving.  But when that little chip says I am not meeting my previous scores, something inside me says I have to push harder and when I do -- my heart beats faster, my blood flows faster and I think I am going to have an heart attack!   Maybe I shouldn't have made my expectations so high when setting my goals!!   

I should work up to a certain goal then move up again.  Setting a number of goals to get to my final goal which is a healthier me!!

What have I learned?   Set goals that aren't impossible!  and....lose a few pounds so my heart doesn't beat so fast when exercising!!  There goes me and setting "impossible" goals!!!  Back to goal setting!

Giving back or Taking Back

When I was growing up, people who took back things that were given, were called "Ind__n Givers"  I don't know where that term came from, but I think its pretty offensive.  Probably goes back to the white settlers who took property and land and wouldn't give it back- Oh wait then the term would be "White Man Givers." 
Some how that doesn't have the same offensive connotation.    When in effect, it really was about "White Man Takers"  Now for some that might be offensive.

Recently, I was asked to give something back that was given in what I thought was love and care.  However, the person who gave the gift and I had a falling out, a misunderstanding, a fight!!!   So I guess to get back at me.  He showed me, and asked for the gift back.   Part of me wanted to say "No! It's mine!" but another part of me said that the gift wasn't given with love and care so I should give it back.  So I did the honorable, less confrontational, thing and gave it back.   I gave it back with sadness not that I didn't have the gift but that he really felt that "taking it back!" would hurt me.  What it did was for me to feel more sorry for him and to say a prayer for people, like him, who think that gift giving comes with conditions!

If we can give from the heart and let it go, then it isn't gift giving, its gift borrowing!   

I start celebrating my birthday for a week starting today.   So hopefully, all my gifts will be edible, wearable, and non returnable!   I really don't have to worry though because the person above isn't going to celebrate with me!  And he's the only one in my whole life that every asked for a gift back!!!

Have a blessed day and keep on giving the gift that keeps giving  - LOVE!

"We can think our ownselves!"

I had another wonderful day with my four-year old grandaughter Analise.   We spent the day watching movies, my chick flick movies.   I confess I didn't check the ratings and she and I were watching PG-13 movies, with not to much damage to her social core.  She laughed and cried with me at the appropriate cheesy moments! Here are a few of the things she said to me yesterday!

Annie:  Lola, what are you doing, aren't you going to watch the movie with me?
Lola:   Just a minute, I'm working and will be there as soon as I finish!
Annie:   You not working, your on the computer!!

After this conversation, I began to explain to her that a lot of my work is on the computer and not games like she is used to.   This explanation, of course, did not satisfy her!!

Between movies, the television was on and a Celebrex commercial was on.   I wasn't paying much  attention  until:

Annie:  Lola why are they telling us what to do?
Lola:  It's a commercial, honey, that's what commericals do?
Annie:  Geez, we could think our ownselves!"

I wanted to tell her that many of us couldn't  but that was for another day, now back to the movies about pet pigs and traveling jeans!!!

Where do you get your money?

Annie is keeping me company this week and after only two days, we have managed to spend ALL her money on this a Hannah Montana Guitar.  She came with a wallet with $14.00 determined to go shopping with  Lola and Auntie Jonelle.  All day she begged me to go shopping.   I told her I had to work to get money so she would have to be patient.  After about an hour of, "Are you done yet?"  She asked how come I get money for my work.   I told her I was a pastor and pastors work really hard all the time by praying for people, visiting people, talking to people, writing, reading and preaching.  I told her "being a pastor is really hard work."  She replied in her very informed manner. "No, they don't, my daddy (who is a pastor) doesn't work hard, he just travels! and I miss him!"   It is really difficult to explain to a four-year old "hard work."  So I finished the work I needed to for the time, packed her in the car and went to Target the store where according to Annie, "can get everything!"  We made an agreement about what she could get and how much money she had etc before we went into the store.  I agreed on what I would buy her and nothing else.   She picked out my purchases and then to the toy department after at least 30 minutes she decided on the Hannah Montana Guitar.  It was S18.  I told her that she didn't have enough money.   Then she said, "You give Uncle Kevin money and he has a job!'   So we went home with a guitar!   Now she's asking, "When are we going shopping with Auntie?"  Gotta love Annie!

How hot is it?

HOW HOT IS IT?

Such a dumb question when ordering a “Southwest Scramble” at Jack in the Box.   I asked the person at the counter, “How hot is it?.”   He replied, “It’s not that hot.”  That should have been the clue.  But no, I insisted, since the young man was Asian, I asked, “Is it as hot as Kimchee?’   He said, “No, its not close to that.”   Then he said, “I love kimchee!”   So do I, So I ordered.   Just a note, the “Southwest Scramble as a bite to it!  At first bite I wanted to run for water, but decided to pick through the meal avoid the peppers and I was fine!   So never again, will I ask, “How hot is it?”  I’ll just avoid it!

That's My Baby Boy!

Okay so he almost 40 (another year to go)  and he isn't the youngest of my babies but Bruce is still my baby.   I have four children and they are all my babies.  No matter  the age.  I worry about them as much as I did when they were born, just different worries now.   So my baby, in the spotlight, Bruce, is STANDING (which in PCUSA talk means running) for the position of Moderator of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (U.S.A. is a particular denomination with the Presbyterian Denomination.  i.e.  Presbyterian Church of American -PCA doesn’t ordain women as pastors or elders, so there are different types of Presbyterian churches)

Back to my baby!    I am very proud of this human being that God has called into ordained ministry.    As a child of a single parent and with a difficult step-father (not Joel). he didn’t have it easy!!!  But God is faithfull!   Bruce's STANDING for moderator is supported by his whole family which includes his extended family who have watched him grow into this very capable, faithful, son, grandson, nephew and uncle.

What makes him a great leader of the church?  He loves Jesus!   He believes in an awesome God! And the Holy Spirit is alive in him!   I invite you to be in his presence when talking about the future of the church or the latest antics of his daughters.   He is filled with joy and energy.  Okay so he is also smart, well-read, and grounded in reformed theology!!    He knows that God is about transformation in the church and in our own lives. 

He has experience at all levels of the Presbyterian Church.  At the age of 16 he became a youth group leader and elder.   He has good experiences serving the local as well as the wider church.   Just take a look at his blogs Bruce's Personal Blog or Moderator Blog to see what he believes, how he thinks, and how cute my granddaughters are!!

Okay, as his mother, I just have to say, “I am a proud momma!"  Bruce as Moderator of the PCUSA will bring a welcome change to the conversation about the church and how we look to our future.