Reyes Gibbs Blog

Jesus and his super powers!

I went to worship at another church.  The preacher and the congregation lifted up aspects of their faith that they believe are core to their belief as well as doctrine, interpretation of scripture--good and bad.   The question was asked what things about religion/faith that you know of that people for centuries have disagreed.  One person raised, "The Virgin Birth".  The original Greek describes Mary as young but when King James translated  the word "young"  it became virgin because  "if  Jesus wasn't born of a virgin birth probably he wouldn't have his super powers!!! " Hmm Jesus Christ with a cape and a big "J" on his chest!
now that  is something to ponder. 

Seriously though, there are hundreds of issues Christians will fight over and against!   The point of the conversation for this Sunday was that each person has to know what their core belief is and let no one else shake their core.   For me, God's love is abundant, Jesus' life, death and resurrection, is proof of that and if you don't agree, it's okay.  God will love you anyway!!  So if you want to argue about predestination or which sins are greater, go right ahead because God will still love me no matter what you believe!!!

"When did God stop inspiring?"

The church I serve has regular Wednesday night Faith Encounter sessions.  Faith Encounter sessions involve reflecting on scripture with relevant issues of the day using books, articles, or faith stories.    All of the partiipants are given rules for engagement.  "No hitting, spitting, yelling, kicking or converting!"   So far its worked for no matter what folks say during this session, they are listened to with love, openess, and thoughtfulness.   We have great discussions and over the years I have seen all of the participants grow in their faith in their own way, on their own time schedule and they all understand that they are on a continuous faith journey.   They all know that God is not done with them yet!!

When studying the scripture, its context, etc.  There is always a discussion about whether the Bible is true in the sense that everything happened the way it said it did.   One of the responses was that the Bible was written by God.  So it begs the questions "Does God have hands?  Which language did God write or speak in? and more..."   Or what gave those men the authority to pick some books for the Bible and not others?  All really good questions.

Then came the best, "If God inspired the people 3,000 years ago to write about God and later Jesus, did God stop inspiring people after that?  So if I pick up a book by someone who has worked in the church and the world and has done good things, aren't the author's words, 'inspired by God' and could I consider that sacred text? I don't understand, if we believe the Bible is inspired by God can't we believe that others who write sharing God's love and Jesus' teachings  are also inspired by God and we should take a look at those writings also?"

And so it is with Faith Encounters

My baby's birthday!

Today is Kevin's Birthday!! I remember it well!  He did not want to come out and see this wonderful, crazy world!  He wanted to stay as long as he could!! and I wouldn't have that!   But as history will tell you, "I am always making him do things he doesn't want to do!"   Kevin is a joy to me and continues to give me opportunities to see the world differently through his eyes!  He won't be my friend on Facebook.  He is the best uncle to his nieces and to his siblings, he gives them ____(I'll let them fill in the blank!)  His siblings always think that one of them is my favorite and it is true, they all are!    God has blessed me abundantly!    If you want to see cuter pictures of Kevin go to his Manong Bruce's Blog .   I love the one of him when he was just a toddler on a huge horse!!! Lots of them in his cute stage and now here are the ones in his handsome stage!  Happy Birthday Kevin!

More about "Us"

The Holy Spirit is wonderful and is always nudging, showing, energizing, creating and playing me! (Yes, the "with" is left out!    My last post I was pondering billboards and the term US in them.   Then I picked up Brian McLaren's new book (a Holy Spirit moments, since I several books I could have picked up on my desk waiting to be read!),  Everything Must Change - Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope and got to the 2nd chapter, "second thoughts had come to stay" (pp. 32-40)  In this chapter the author explored the reasons why two world wars and the holocaust happened.    He talks about how intellectuals after 1945 were asking how did Germany  "sink into the barbarism of Nazism and all that entailed."    The intellectuals came up with the description "excessive confidence."   He compared this excessive confidence to cancer which is excessive growth of cells.

Okay so what about "US"?  So when this confidence grows out of proportion, like cancer becomes malignant, "giving the 'us' of Germany a manic hyperconfidence to claim racial superiority and global dominance, even if it mean extermination of those who were determined to be other...."(pg. 36)

I wonder if Christians often take the US against THEM approach a little to excessively  forgetting to love God and one another.  Jesus called us to the table to break bread with him.   I think that as we go out into the world we all need to understand that the "Us vs Them" approach only increases conflict and confusion, lost opportunities to share God's grace, and  just not a good idea to use Jesus as a weapon of fear (won't get into heaven or going to hell if you don't...)  I believe that all are called to the table and when at Table he broke the bread, they saw him and were amazed!  And maybe some at the meal won't get it, see it, feel it or believe it but if they come often to the table, one day Jesus will amaze them.  Gotta keep inviting them and  maybe if we Christians could exhibit Christ in us to others, the others just might get a glimpse of Christ's saving grace and God's abundant love!

Telling many He died for us before they see, feel, and believe in Jesus may seem a bit excessive! (okay for me on a billboard! next to the freeway!)  When I don't know someone and find out from a loved one they died, I say, "I'm sorry for your loss."  Maybe that's what a lot of folks think about some of us Christians put Jesus' death over his resurrection and new life.   Oh well, I am going to ponder this more.....

Billboards - "Us or You?"

On my way to and from Stockton, I see billboards with "He died for us!"  "He died for you!"  posted by a group that has "Jesus something dot com" (not sure about the name)  'God Bless America!"   I just wonder, who is the us?  or the you?  (for you who are reading and getting all excited that I don't understand the concept behind the billboards, I do understand, I went to seminary, by golly, I get the sacrifice and gratitude concept but this post isn't about my not getting it..)

Is the us, the woman having to make the difficult decision of abortion, or the teenager who is gay and wants to come out to his family and community, or is it the immigrant who comes to America through unorthodox means? I wonder if the us, that these billboards say that He died for is the same group that is against the war in Iraq or for Obama?    I would say YES and also for the folks on the opposite ends of these issues!

When the sign says, "He died for you!" as one is driving is the YOU, the one driving with a suspended license because of DUI violations, a spouse who has just committed acts of domestic violence, someone who just robbed a bank?  I would have to say YES and also for the folks who commit only "little sins!"

And if God does bless America, does that mean only Americans or does it mean the environment of America where it is the land of the free and rights of individuals are sacred - right to worship, vote, pursuit of happiness..... Do we really believe that God blesses just America or America is just one of the places God blesses? 

I  wonder what these signs are supposed to convey when their audience is varied and unpredictable.   It's not like they get to choose who reads their messages.   So as I drive by those signs, I say, "Thank you Jesus!"  Maybe that's all those billboard are supposed to do, elicit a Thank You!

We are famous!

"We are famous!  Look Annie, we are famous!" The words came from Abigail our 7-year old granddaughter, after getting the mail and finding the recent edition of THE OUTLOOK with her family on the front cover!!   Then a deep sigh, "I hope they get our names right!"   referring to an earlier photo of Evelyn published during GA that did not have the right name.    Our grand daughters' last name is "Pugh" after their mom.   Their middle name is "Bacosa" after my father's Filipino name "Bacosa de los Reyes"  So the only person in the family with the last name, "Reyes-Chow" is Bruce.   I sure hope that they do get their names right, famous or not!

Reflections - Peacemaking - 3D Security/Human Security

3D Security Initiative =development, diplomacy and defense was one of the other issues that I am most intrigued.  This approach to peace is unique but is really common sense.   Check out the website 3D Security Initiative it provides more details.

3D Security makes sense because Ii's like Maslow's pyramid.Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs   Folks need the basics in order to accomplish other things in their life.     The following descriptions are taken from the brochure describing the  3D Security Initiative. 

Essential to security is DEVELOPMENT assistance it "reduces long-term threats to our national security by helping to build stable, prosperous and peaceful socieities." Then DIPLOMACY , "The US public expect national leaders to engage in robust diplomacy and ongoing dialogue, even with countries like Iran and North Korea. The last resort DEFENSE , "Most American believe the US should use military force only as a last resort to protect law and order."

This program is part of the Eastern Mennonite University EMU The University provides a summer program - Summer Peace Building Institute which by its description and conversations with others is an amazing program that involves diverse cultures.   One person told me that her view of peacemaking has changed since taking the Peace Building Institute.

As a nation, we have to learn what it means to no longer be the Number One (In a lot of things you decide).  Our security of country, home and self will depend on how we as a people, nation or local community learn what it takes to create environments for peace.   I believe that the 3D Security Initiative provides skills and tools to  address "security challenges like terrorism, global warming, deadly diseas, adn the proliferation of weapons."

Please check out the websites of the 3D security Initiative and the  Peace and Justice Center@Eastern Mennonite University

 

No more Coke products! - Another Reflection on the Peacemaking Conference

The Peacemaking Conference this year  lifted up many issues that we as a church and as a people should be concerned about.  In fact I came away feeling as if I alone was responsible for the demise of the world as I know it.    Really though every one of us contributes to the the demise of the world as we know it.   Below is a story about Coca-Cola and after hearing the story, I can't by Coca-Cola products, I'll have to settle for water, if there is any left....

In a presentation about clean water or the lack of clean water.   One of the presenters from India shared the story of how the conglomerate Coca Cola bought 40 acres of land (after using super high technology surveying)  that had wells on it.   They proceeded to start a water bottling plant and in the process depleted the locals' water supply so much that the only water they could get out of the wells was water polluted by toxins that had remained at the bottom when the wells were full.   In addition, Coca Cola convinced the locals that their sludge from the processing plant would fertilzer only to find out that they lied and instead polluted their land with high levels of toxins.   Coca-cola bottled the water and then sold each bottle for a price higher than a bottle of milk.    The company had to start trucking in water to use because there was no more to get out of the ground.   This also meant no water for the nearby farmers.   The water the villagers did use from these contaminated wells, caused stomach illnesses and rashes.   Rice would not even cook in the water.  The following is an exerpt from the "Strike This" blog  click here for the rest of the article Details .       

India vs. Coca-Cola    

Around India, a Resistance to Coke

Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800  Sharad Haksar's Statement By Ari Paul
From Uttar Pradesh to Kerala, residents protest water shortages. Can they beat the beverage giant? Some say yes.
In 2005, a Coca-Cola plant in Kerala lost its ability to operate from a local government body. Over a thousand villagers demanded the closure of a plant in Rajasthan last December. And in Mehdiganj, near Varanasi, 500 people demanded the same in February. For the last three years, communities all around India have reacted against water shortages and the contamination of water they claim is being done by Coca-Cola bottling plants...... (click "details" above to see rest of article.

I need a thicker skin! And he needs to learn how to...

Over the next few weeks or  until  I get a thicker skin (if that's possible) about criticisms about my son, you’ll here my reflections about his call to Moderator.  For instance, when I was in Bruce’s booth observing and listening to the conversations Bruce carried on with the folks who visited with him, I was filled with great pride and conviction that God was calling the right person to be the Moderator.  Watching him made me take a time trip back to when he was born, potty training, telling stories, tying his shoes, first loves, fashion styles, etc..., how did he grow up to be such a great man (Oh wait, he had a great family and a wonderful community that raised him, mostly women!)   Of course, I am biased about him and all my children, so when people criticize him or take him on I get a little riled.

Here’s a picture of a person who came up to him first off and said, “You and I don’t agree on the ordination question so lets get that clear! I want to know how you feel about …..”  I thought, “Well that’s one way to get to know someone one and then I noticed, this man dressed up in a suit with tennis shoes (okay I’m for comfort but the combinaton just doesn’t do it for me!)    hadn’t tied his shoes.  One of the  first true lessons in independence is learning to tie your own shoes (except for the Velcro tolerant) So as he continued to tell Bruce what he believed I  was conflicted Do I tell him to tie his shoes or just do the mommy thing and tie them for him…I did neither.!   I said a blessing for him and prayed that when he tripped over his shoelaces that he didn’t hurt himself too badly!!

Who do you say that I am? Wrong….

I admit that my Filipino genes and my regular “staining” of my hair and getting on Facebook, keeps me from looking as old as society would make me.   This “look” sometimes makes people wonder about me and my relationship with my children.  My younger ones, think being on Facebook is “wrong” and won’t be my friend.  Much more with oldest one.  When he was sixteen, I was once mistaken as his sister.   

But the weird thing with people is that they have to make me something.  A couple of years ago, I signed up for a conference and the person making arrangements for my stay  put me in a room with Bruce.  I told them they had to change that, and they looked shocked.  Upon further investigation, they thought I was Bruce’s wife!!!

I joke about this with him.  Then on the night he was elected moderator, we had to line up to walk into General Assembly, Bruce, Robin and the girls were in front and Joel and I were behind them, when one of the staff came up to me and told me to go to the front with Bruce, I said “no” and she asked, “Aren’t you his wife?” 

Okay well, at the Peacemaking Conference Bruce came for a couple of days.    I brought the girls for the whole conference but those two days they were with their dad. While shopping at the Peacemaking store, a well-intentioned woman came up to me and said, “Well, how are you going to like single parenting?”  I replied, “I was a single parent when I was raising him!”   She looked at me puzzled.   Then I said, “I am Bruce’s mother, not his wife!”  She was embarrassed.

When repeating this story to Bruce, he replied that while at General Assembly, several people felt it important to tell him of the “rumors” of the other woman who was planning on going on trips with him.  I had said out loud at least once that I had hoped I could travel with my son but..the other woman, his mom?  The truth is that I am not planning on traveling because then I would not be able to be with my wonderful granddaughters and their company is much more fun!!