Wandering Thoughts

Wandering Thoughts is moving

2006-08-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have decided to make the switch to WordPress.
Blogger has been good and I have no complaints, but Wordpress offers a lot more and it is more user friendly. For those of us who do not know how to creat webpages this is a good site to blog on b/c wordpress is very user friendly.
Check out my new blog by clicking this link
or past this url on your browser: hhttp://juliuseltrucho.wordpress.com/

Too Long

2006-07-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have blogged. I have not been able to connect to the web b/c I hurt my back and I have not been able to carry my laptop to school with me. I am doing better now.

Last weekend Lisa and I went with a few fellow Regent students to a music festival on Orcas Island, WA. It is called Wood Song Music Festival In the picture above you can see our travel companions (l-r Lisa (in pink shirt), me, Andrea and Carla). We had a fun time camping. We went swiming in a beautiful lake. You got to go next summer if you are in Orcas Island, WA area.

Canadian Baptist Ministries Update on Lebanon

2006-07-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

URGENT Prayer Requests for Lebanon

Inspite of the recent turn of events in the Middle East, we thank God that our field staff and partners report that they are safe in Lebanon but ask for our prayers for the escalating military situation in Lebanon. Key infrastructure has been targeted, including bridges, electrical power plants and airports. The Israeli military response has made travel in and out of the country extremely difficult. The Lebanese Baptists are concerned about a group of 60 American short-term missionaries that are there with them and unable to leave at this time. Another group of 200 Shiite families has sought shelter at the Beirut Baptist School (BBS) in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in West Beirut. Because the ABTS is located in a relatively safe part of town, they may also be called upon to shelter two church groups currently in a hotel nearby.

* Safety. We thank God that our field staff—Elie and Mereille Haddad—and church partners are safe. Please pray for their continued safety, especially as they travel in and around Beirut to minister to those in need. Pray that the group of 60 American volunteers currently at the ABTS for a conference would be able to leave Lebanon and return home safely.

* Relief. The Sharing Way has committed USD$5,000 in emergency relief funds to help feed those seeking shelter at the ABTS and BBS and to support those in need. If you would like to contribute, please designate your donation: The Sharing Way - Emergency Relief. Some supplies are already becoming difficult to obtain, due to transportation difficulties and the stockpiling food by frightened families.

* Peace. Please pray for world leaders to intervene and mediate a peaceful solution for this conflict. Pray that stability will return before the CBM Youth Conference led by Jeff Carter in August.

* Leadership. Elie and Mereille Haddad are playing a key role in mobilizing the Lebanese churches to pray for this current situation and have begun to organize prayer meetings for the local churches. They are also challenging the churches to respond with action and compassion. They have already begun to

jerico beach

2006-07-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

jerico beach
Originally uploaded by intransit.

This weekend Caleb and I sold some drinks to make some money at the Vancouver Folk Festival. We had a great time, but it was not very lucrative. We learned a lot and hope to rake in the dollars next year when we set up the super water station.

Save Buckingham!!!

2006-07-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

I used to help out in the Buckingham Youth Brigade.
The neighborhood is now in jeapordy of being torn down.
Gentrification is threatening a beautiful community.
Historically Northern Virginia serves the interest of the
rich investors and there have been various neighborhoods that
have been torn down. There is a community near Potomac Yard
that had some beautiful murals that was torn down and now the only
remants remain in the pictures. I wish someone had saved the mural.
It has a powerful painting of the Virgen de Guadalupe.

It is not looking good for this neighborhood.
I knew this was coming and it came a year later than I predicted.
But the battle is on. So if you are intersted in saving this community
here is some info:

Apreciadas y apreciados amigos en Cristo,
(Please see English Below)

Por parte de Los Latinos Unidos de San Carlos Borromeo, quería invitarles a una reunión de emergencia sobre la gran crisis en la Comunidad de Buckingham Village de Arlington, en la cual es posible que más de 300 familias pierdan su vivienda, muchas de ellas son parroquianos de nuestras iglesias hermanas de Arlington.. Dicho evento tomará lugar este domingo en la Iglesia de San Carlos a las 2:15pm en Benedict Hall.

Debido a que la Junta Directiva del Condado de Arlington hará una decisión clave sobre el futuro de dicha vivienda este martes entrante (11 de julio- VEA MENSAJE EN INGLES ABAJO), los residentes del Buckingham Village nos hablarán sobre su situación actual y como nosotros los podemos apoyar de manera concreta. Todos están invitados – habrán refrescos.

Que Dios les bendiga Uds. y a todos y todas nuestros hermanos en peligro de perder sus viviendas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On behalf of Los Latinos Unidos of St. Charles Parich in Arlignton, I would like to invite you to an emergency education and action forum regarding the current housing crisis in the Buckingham Village Community on Sunday, July 9, at 2 p.m. in Benedict Hall.

Development plans for Buckingham Village could result in the loss of more than 300 affordable rental units. Please come and find out how you can help save affordable housing at Buckingham.

All are invited, refreshments will be served.

Peace and Grace,
Erik

Erik Manuel Giblin
Presidente
Latinos Unidos de San Carlos Borromeo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
De Gene Betit de la Parroquia Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz

PLEASE mark your calendars and plan to come out to the Courthouse (County Board Room on the third floor) this Tuesday at 6:30 PM. We will have stickers to identify you as a Save Buckingham Coalition supporter. You really don’t have to do much else but show up, and it’s an educational experience, one that could prepare you for more extensive action some time in the future!

In reality, this is something of a pep rally, so come on out even if you don’t feel peppy or even comfortable. Just your presence might save someone’s home!!

Gene
From: SaveBuckinghamCoalition@yahoogroups.com

Please plan to attend the County Board Meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM - regardless of the outcome of Monday's meeting, we need your presence and support! Please remember that this is a public hearing and we are at the top of the agenda, so if you are interested in speaking on this matter, feel free to submit a speaker's slip before they begin hearing speakers on this topic.

On Tuesday, July 11th, the County Board will have a public hearing on landmark designation, and will consider whether to advertise a public hearing to extend the Buckingham local historic district to include Villages 1, 2 and 3. In June, County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman, Board Member Walter Tejada and County Manager Ron Carlee convened a group consisting of County Staff, Paradigm representatives, the HALRB chairman and board members, and members of the Save Buckingham Coalition (SBC) to consider a variety of community preservation scenarios that would result in a negotiated solution. As of yesterday afternoon's meeting, we do not have a final resolution; however, Ron Carlee and Stan Sloter are working toward a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). On Monday, our group will reconvene to obtain information about the MOU.

I will send out a status to this group on Monday with the results of that meeting.

Kathleen McSweeney
Save Buckingham Coalition

So who is going to win?

2006-07-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

The last couple days I watched the World Cup Games. I was going for Portugal to win today, but France has a lot of momentum and they did very well against Portugal. I went to Vera's Burgers with some friends from Regent. We had a great time.

Now there is a break and I can get back to the studies.
I am preparing for a class called Believing into Life on the Gospel of John.

The weather is phenomenal in Vancouver. We have had a wonderful time playing in the sun.

Tough Day for Australia

2006-06-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

This was the saddest loss that I have seen in the World Cup.
Australia played so well, and Italy wins the game with five seconds to spare.
The ref should have let the game play on and let the players battle it out in overtime.
To end the game on a pentaly kick is no fun. Way to go Soccerooos. You guys played with a lot of heart.

Tomorrow should be a good game with Brazil and Ghana.
I can't wait to watch this match up.
More soccer to go!

Reading Glimpse of Jesus

2006-06-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent book on Jesus.
The first chapter was excellent.
It was about JESUS' LOVE.
I think he did a good job of capturing Jesus'
love in beautiful images.
He gives this vivid picture of Jesus talking to Judas
at the last supper. It made me cry because of the deep love
Jesus has for everyone even Judas.

I started reading the second chapter about the church.
This one hasn't been as good.
Check it out if you have time.

I need another good fiction recommendation.
Anybody been reading some good fiction this summer?

Parade for Reconciliation

2006-06-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

Invitation to: Parade For Reconciliation

Time: 11am, July 1 2006

Marshalling Point: Victory Square (Cambie and West Pender)

Ending point: Chinatown (Gore and East Pender)

Purpose: to compliment the redress of Chinese Head Tax by the federal government with a communal reconciliation and a parade that symbolically reverses the 1907 anti-Chinese immigration parade that turned into an ugly riot where a mob of 9000 ransacked Vancouver Chinatown.

Agenda:

11am Welcome to the event

Historical background: Bill Chu

Need for Reconciliation: Rev. Tama Ward Balisky and Wayne Ho

Symbolic reconciliation between Chinese and non-Chinese Canadians among the audience, with hand-shaking or embrace

11:40am to 12:15am

Parade from Victory Square to Chinatown

Offering of red packages at Chinatown

Closing Remarks

Background:

We live in the shadow of an Empire. That Empire once colonized and now globalize. Like Paul the apostle who was a Roman citizen, we can either claim all the privileges of the Empire’s citizenship or we declare its irrelevance by submitting ourselves to the demands on citizens of God’s Kingdom. Specifically the choice today is to decide whether Canadians’ discriminatory treatment of the early Chinese is acceptable and whether reconciliation is the solution. To help your choice, I have attached a brief history between Chinese and the colonial powers.

This is an invitation to a communal reconciliation event coming up on Canada Day, 2006. The backdrop is the federal government’s parliamentary apology and redress announcement for the Chinese Head Tax survivors and their surviving spouses on June 22, 2006. That was the official redress to an historic injustice. But for the interpersonal and communal discrimination then and now, there is a parallel need for interpersonal and communal reconciliation between the two peoples. We therefore invite you to come and hear the historical and spiritual reasons for reconciliation, then make the people’s choice of walking together with the once marginalized. Invite other Canadian friends and be a witness to the historic truth to others in Canada and the world on coming July 1.

Although Christians have taken an initial lead in planning this initiative, this parade is by no means restricted to christians. It is open to anyone seeking truth and reconciliation. Note also it is not purely a Chinese issue as the government acknowledges discrimination then affected a number of people groups in Canada, and the financial redress will apply to any living spouses of HT payers, be they Chinese, First nations or Canadians. To move on as a country, Canadians need to make an informed decision to seek reconciliation with their past. Please pray that people can see the falleness of human beings in each community and can humble themselves in a collective desire to heal, to honour, to restore and to reconcile.

Bill Chu

Founder, Canadians For Reconciliation

ccia@shaw.ca

2006-06-23T16:22:00.000-07:00

I have been using Pandora this afternoon. I just caught Eric Benet's song Spending My Life With You with Tamia. It brought back some good memories.

I listened to an old podcast of KEXP Live and discovered Jose Gonzalez for the first time. On the right is his album Veneer. I never heard of this guy. It was fun listening to his incredible guitar skills and quality music.

Cucaracha's got a funny comic today

2006-06-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Letter from Emmanuel Baptist Church in El Salvador

2006-06-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH

Member of the Baptist Federation of El Salvador

And of the World Council of Churches

PASTORAL LETTER

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 42ND ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FOUNDING

Gratitude and Fidelity to God:
We give thanks to our God, who in his kindness and mercy has sustained us and allowed us to celebrate the 42nd Anniversary of our founding.

Reflecting on the theme of our Anniversary “Affirmed as a Church faithful to Our Lord Jesús and to His Gospel”, we feel the moral obligation to share some Pastoral words with our missions, communities and sister churches, with organizations and institutions of like mind and with our people in general.

To be faithful to Jesús Christ our Lord is to stand for the values of the Gospel in our situation of generalized crisis, a situation which is based in a crisis of ethical and moral values. As Christians, as a Church, we believe more than ever, that the values of the Gospel must be put forth as an alternative means to change the violence, the impunity, the injustice and the poverty which surround us like walls preventing our search for a better future.

The Reality of Sin which insults the sons and daughters of God
What face do we see in our society, in our people? We see a face of uncertainty, a face exhausted by our daily reality, but at the same time, a face looking for something, looking for hope, for ways to confront this situation full of violence in all its forms: fraud, despair and death.

As Evangelical Christians we cannot ignore this situation, much less accommodate ourselves to it and remain untouched. It is imperative to identify this avalanche of death as something rejected and abominable in the eyes of God. Who can be safe in this country while death dances its macabre dance, cutting off the lives of children, youth, men and women. These victims, generally poor, have their lives cut short while others look on helplessly.

This economic crisis and all of its consequences, have been here forever, subjugating, oppressing and humiliating each son and daughter of God. This has been the major problem with which we have grappled during most of our history. It is a situation which convicts us all of many things, of meanness, lack of solidarity, greed and ambition. To be clear, this disastrous poverty, which victimizes the majority of our people, must be met with both national and civil maturity. We cannot continue dividing our people into the few who have captured all the national riches and the many whose lives are doomed to poverty and humiliating misery.

This is not primarily a political or ideological problem. It is a permanent mark on the face of this country, which after 175 years of supposed independence, only provides evidence of our continuing moral and spiritual poverty, especially of those in various levels of power, who have served the interests of the few and not the interests of the whole population.

The church of Christ, faithful to her Lord, must identify the real truth about El Salvador. At the same time she must steadfastly confront this truth which systematically denies life, justice, dignity, and peace to the sons and daughters of God here in this country.

The pathetic crises in the health, education, housing, and water distribution systems are the products of a lack of vision and political will, and at the same time, the burdens of corruption which has stolen the public monies and benefited those connected to power. This disgraceful corruption, which is like a curse built into the different structures of power, is something which we must all oppose and denounce.

We are witnesses to a supposed democracy in respect to our laws, but that is just talk in the style of the Pharisees. In our country, in an amazing and unheard of form, the Rights of the State are violated and the laws continue to be applied in a discriminatory and unequal manner without respect for international treaties and laws. It is neither right nor ethical for Public Figures to boast of applying the laws rigorously when they have tolerated and covered up the crimes of those associated within their circles of power.

Our Pastoral Call
As church, as disciples faithful to our Lord, faithful to all truth and justice, and interpreting the feeling of our communities as well as wide sectors of national life, we petition the authorities in each of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Powers

1º) That they use all means and mechanisms of the Law TO PROHIBIT THE IMPORTATION AND SALE of firearms as well as adopting strong laws which restrict the carrying and use of firearms.

An armed population is simply inclined to violence and crime. It is imperative that we obey God’s law which says “DO NOT KILL” (Éxodus 20:13). God’s intention is that nothing should threaten life. “ They will neither harm nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says the Lord” (Isaíah 65 :25).

2º) That all the Churches in El Salvador, together with all the sectors of national life unite together in a “National Crusade for Peace and Reconciliation against the Violence”

3º) That there be NO INCREASE in the cost of electricity or in any other cost of public services.

The truth is that the population already cannot bear the high cost of living which has only been made worse by the imposition of the dollar as Salvadoran currency. It all contributes to an increase in the price of basic products and services, which in turn affects the economy of the poor majority in this country.

“… Administer true justice, show mercy and compassión to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.”

(Zechariah 7:9-10)

4º) That the Legal Rights of all our citizens be restored so that there will be no more abuses of power or violations of the law.

That there will be no more covering up or consent to impunity, which gives birth to much of the delinquency and criminality that is causing us ruin and despair as a people.

That this abusive gift of $25,000 to each retired magistrate, who already has his pension, not be approved, while poor families among us are humiliated with a mere $15 per month.

“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the handoff the wicked.

Rise up O God, judge the earth for all the nations are yours.”

(Psalm 82: 3,4, 8).

As a Christian Church we affirm our commitment to sharing the Gospel of God’s Kingdom, to practicing Christian Values and to assuming the responsibility of solidarity in accompanying and serving the poor and marginalized brothers and sisters of our country. We call upon all men and women of El Salvador to walk in the paths of God’s redemption, in the hope that the dream of God, full of peace and justice for our country, will bear fruit and flower for the good of all our brothers and sisters.

“No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates, Praise.”

Isaíah 60:18

May the peace and blessing of God be with us in this hour when our faith is challenged to persevere and remain faithful to Jesús Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Miguel Tomás Castro

Pastor Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel

Vice-President of the Life and Peace Institute of Sweden

June 9&10, 2006.

I didn't like this book

2006-06-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

I started reading this book and read three or four chapters in this book.
Unfortunately I could waist my time on it because I was not engaged by this one.
It was about a guy that had a genetic disease that caused him to appear in different points in time, thus a Time Traveler.
In the end, I couldn't engage with the book. I tried to read it, but I didn't enjoy the back and forth and how he would meet himself in different points in time. I put it down.

Now I am reading a book I really like called a Glimpse of Jesus by Brennan Manning. You got to read it if you haven't read anything by Manning. It is an excellent introduction to his writing.

World Cup Fun

2006-06-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Being from Latin American heritage I feel like I must like the World Cup.
In the past I would watch it every now and then, but I never really liked it.
However for some reason the 2006 World Cup has captured my attention.
I have enjoyed watching excellent fútbol.
In reality, I don't know how to play good fútbol, but watching teams like Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Argentina I am begining to appreciate excellent teams.

I was so sad to see US go out. It was a tough loss. I felt like they played with lots of heart. Their punishing tie to Italy was one that will not be forgotten. I also thought they played with a lot of class against Ghana. There were games that I saw before that where the teams would play on when a player was hurt, but the US would stop play when a player was hurt. I liked that.

El Salvador

2006-06-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Washington Post Article from last week talks about the possibility of another period of killings for social control. Read the article below. This is really scary. I hope it can be different.

El Salvador death squads targeting criminals: Church
Reuters
Thursday, June 15, 2006; 7:32 PM

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (Reuters) - A spike in the number of murders of gang members and criminals in El Salvador is raising concern that resurgent death squads are carrying out "social cleansing," the Catholic Church said on Thursday.

Last year, 3,812 people were murdered in the Central American nation where a civil war between Marxist guerrillas and the right-wing government raged from 1980 to 1992, up from 2,993 killed in 2004.

Church lawyers said in a report that the killings "systematically" targeted criminals, and recalled the brutal murders of rebels and sympathizers carried out by right-wing death squads during the war.

"The systematic nature of the cases leads one to believe that they have been committed to sow terror and carry out social cleansing," the report said.

The Church did not say who might be responsible for the killings, but during the conflict it was mostly members of the security forces.

In recent years, El Salvador and neighboring Guatemala and Honduras have suffered a surge in crime carried out by Hispanic street gangs originally formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s.

In April, El Salvador's police chief said regional governments could wipe out the tattooed street mobs in two months by treating them like opponents in a war.

La Cucaracha

2006-06-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

I like Lilo's cartoons.

He has a creative way of making hard issues funny.

Baltimore

2006-06-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Turn Your Head and Kafka
This is my friend Jenny Tibbles first time as artistic director for a play.
If you are in the Baltimore area check it out.

World Cup

2006-06-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

In honor of the World Cup here is a fun video of some fancy moves on the field.

Way to go US! I am happy with a tie. I was pulling for the US.
Hopefully we can make it into the next round.

World Cup

2006-06-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

The world cup had been fun to watch.
I am at the library today in downtown Vancouver and their restaurant (a high class one) was full of Saudis watching the Saudi vs. Tunisia.
It was cool seeing the place packed. I didn't know there were that many Saudis here in Vancouver.
I watched the France vs. Switzerland game. It was rather dissapointing.
I can't wait to see how Trinadad Tobago do against England tomorrow.
I am going to try to watch that one.

Yesterday I had my annual summer sports day.
Caleb and I went to Regent on bicycle. Then after a few hours of hard labour in study we went to play some basketball for about 1.5 hours and then we played about a hour of ultimate. This morning my ankle and knees were so sore, but more from getting banged up than muscle soreness. It was a lot of fun and I need some time to play.

El Salvador

2006-06-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling because of what is going on in El Salvador. It seems like the situation is getting worse and that the national policy is driving it deeper into poverty. I heard an Anglican Priest that works with Cristosol in El Salvador and his stories made me sad. Although he had some stories of hope it breaks my heart to know that this country that started out with a lot of hope in 1992 with the signing of the peace accords is now struggling. When I was there last summer the message was clear: The best export from El Salvador is it's people. There is little incentive to stay. There is no just work and the work that is available makes people slaves because there are plenty of other people who would take your job if you are fired so the bosses have lots of power.

It is a challenge to my theology when ever I visit. I don't even know how to articulate my thoughts and ideas or my struggles. My wife and I are praying about returning. I got another year and a half here in Vancouver. Only God knows what is next. My prayers are with El Salvador.

Cool Optical Illusion

2006-06-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

Go to Spanish Castle and stare at the image for 30 seconds then move your cursor over the picture and you will see it in color eventhough it is black and white.

Summer Reading

2006-06-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

I just finished this book called Glittering Images.
I was very surprised by this book, because I didn't like the first half.
However, the second half was excellent.
It is about the life of an Anglican priest that has a breakdown and his resoration by a spiritual director.
It was an insightful look into the life of priest and behind the doors of spiritual direction.

Alma Awards and Idlewilde

2006-06-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

Last night Lisa and I watched the 2006 Alma Awards.
We really liked the tribute to Marc Antony, Gloria Estefan, and the special by Sin Banderas and Brian McKnight. Jimmy Smitts was good as well.

Idlewilde a new movie starring and music by OutKast looks interesting. I don't know if the movie looks like it is all that, but the music will no disappoint. Check out the first single release Mighty O.

Ed

2006-06-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

Here is my boy Ed doing an uncut cribs edition.

Countries and States I have visited

2006-05-28T00:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friend Eddie I found this map. You can create your own visited countries map

And here is a map of the US states I have visited.

create your own visited states map

It's a cool website.

Spread the Wealth

2006-05-26T23:23:00.000-07:00

I am in San Diego only for a short time for my friend Nate Landis' wedding.

There are times in life when you eat a plate of food and you thank God you are alive. Tonight I experienced that at Spread. It is the best vegetarian restaurant I have ever eaten at in my life. The service was exceptional. The dj was right. If you live in San Diego you have go to visit this restaurant. The owners were inspired by a native tribe in South America that did not suffer illnesses because of thier diet of organic fruits, vegtables, and the most important element: FLOWERES!!!!! They have such unique food and the atmosphere is excellent. Go today!

Spread
2879 University Avenue
San Diego, California 92104
Tel. (619) 543-0406

2006-05-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

2006 P.A.P.A. Festival is coming! I was part of the first one at Eastern College. It was a big success. I wish I was on the East coast for this one. Way to go people. I don't know who is organizing this one, but my wife and I will be watching for an update from the event. I whish I could be there too.

Regent Under Construction

2006-05-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

Regent.4-11-06.3
Originally uploaded by mattithyahu.

Regent is building a new library.
It is exciting to see Regent expanding.
I can't wait to see the new space.

Mexican View of Border

2006-05-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

My cousing Juan Hernandez speaks our on the border issue on NPR. Check it out. (Just kidding, Juan and I are not related).

Pastor Miguel

2006-05-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

In contrast to the previous blog here is a letter from Pastor Miguel at Emmanuel Baptist Church in El Salvador:

PASTORAL REFLECTION FOLLOWING THE ELECTION FOR MAYORS AND DEPUTIES MARCH 12, 2006

The latest events in our life as a nation: the electoral campaign, the actual elections and their results require reflection, especially when the nearly equal results mean that both the electorate and the winning parties must revise their position and reflect on their new political practice.

- It is obvious that the results need to be interpreted not only within the scope of the electoral campaign but within the wider scope of our reality as well.

- These almost equal results for ARENA and FMLN in the election tell us something. Both parties, at the moment, do not have a sufficient level of credibility or attraction for the electorate that it is possible in the short term to achieve any major political advantage. As well the political dynamic is a draw or tie with tendencies to try to trick or trap one another.

- With respect to the electoral campaign, its nature, far from attracting people, provoked weariness and disgust even to the point of repulsión. It gave the impressión that each party had absolute authority which allowed them to say whatever they wanted without thinking about the consequences of their words. The campaign was loaded with deadly comments that praised one side while putting down the other. There were false suggestions, intimidations and fear-mongering as well as demagoguery. Frankly, the campaign, with very few exceptions, was confrontational with few positive suggestions, falling often into the vulgar and shocking

- We have said that along with the Offices for the Defense of Human Rights and for the Consumer, we also need an Office for the Defense of the Electorate. It is simply not permissible that general citizens should be the object of harassment, intimidation and manipulation during an election campaign. Everything indicated that the premise of the campaign was confrontation, discounting any possible constructive or alternative propositions to address the real problems of the citizens.

- To this unenlightening and empty campaign is added another grave and delicate element, the political participation of the “citizen president.” We cannot ask him to silence his sympathies and party interests, but we can ask that he not dismiss his role and abuse his investiture, leaving his responsiblities as head of state in order to become an activist and propagandist for the ARENA party. This cannot be permitted, even less so when it results in the most serious violation of the law. The president must answer to the nation for this contempt for and violation of the constitution, which is the highest law of the Republic

As civil society we have the right to demand of the parties and their leaders, seriousness, responsibility, objectivity and above all, honesty. Civil society in all its sectors must assume a more active participation, more decisive and influential. The political task – the subjects of municipality and nation are not to be managed or driven exclusively by the politicians and their parties.

- The trade unions, the community associations, the professional colleges, the social commentators, the universities and OURSELVES, THE CHURCHES have the full right to express our opinión,. We can propose things and point out the things that are not going well and which will not help in the construction of a more democratic country. El Salvador’s expression of democracy must be a more everyday thing than a “just on election day” democracy. All citizens have the absolute right to criticize when the efforts of the state employees do not respond to the interests and well-being of the country, only to the interests of one group or party which has been the common story of this country forever.

I remember when we wanted to construct our school building, It was submitted for competition. All applicants to the competition presented their best proposals and the winner had the most functional one, in harmony with the space, with structural design advantages and the most reasonable costs. Reviewing and reflecting on this and given these electoral results we immediately conclude that we urgently need a reform of the system of political participation in its totality

This is especially true when we see that the electoral processes and the campaigns which are part of them only serve to provoke confrontation and do not help build consensus. Even less do they create visionary coalitions with the purpose to help and empower the building of democracy in the country

- Beyond this electoral scene is another scene with other dimensions. I think if all the energy invested in the speeches, in the painting and posting of propaganda, in caravans, in publications were invested in confronting the problems that are affecting the whole nation; poverty, unemployment, delinquency, violence, lack of opportunities, etc. we could change things. Not only are we investing in this adverse situation which is damaging the life of thousands of families in our country, but also we would become able to channel the efforts of all those who say that they want “a better El Salvador”

- The major challenge for the political parties is not to get more votes one from the other, but to come together in order to understand that working for a better country is the job of everyone. Right now this dream seems impossible, but the last thing the real story of our people, this story of poverty, of misery and lack of opportunities, needs is confrontation. Our people are waiting for a decisive and determined effort to address this reality.

-
For this we feel that it is good to remember the prophets, among them Joel. This young prophet of Judea was reflecting on and analyzing the critical situation of his country. Because of plagues which destroyed their crops the social and economic situation of his country was further aggravated. Meanwhile their social, political and religious leaders were living in a disorderly manner, indifferent to the pain and suffering of their people, in idolatry and sinfulness.

The call of the young prophet is “To Return to God”, to search for God with a broken heart, to leave behind the sin of selfishness and insensitivity, to ask God’s pardon. For in the search for a better country the best ally is the God of Justice, of Grace and Peace.

“Then you will know that I am with you, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.”
Joel 2.27

Rev. Miguel Tomás Castro
Pastor Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel
Vice president of the Life and Peace Institute
Headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden.
March 17, 2006.

"Get Rich is Glorious"

2006-05-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

You ever wonder how the rich live in China? NPR Report sneaks into a Millionaires' Fair. You can hear how the rich in China roll. You can get a gold plated toilet. Wow!

Cool Web Site

2006-05-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

My brother just told me about Pandora. It is an online radio station that picks music with similar traits to the songs or artitst you reccomend. It is like having a personal DJ. Check it out. It is a fun way to find new music. The only thing I didn't like is their limited collection of Latin music. They didn't have some big names like Mana, Juan Luis Guerra or La Ley. However I was excited they had Cody Chestnutt. I have been getting into his music recently.

The Invisible Children

2006-05-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

I forgot to update the Invisible Children silent sleep out.
It was a good event.
We were excited to see how lots of people were curious about what we were doing and lots of people asked questions.
My wife and I could only stay until 10 PM.
That night, Lisa and I were disappointed in the turnout in Vancouver.
I expected to see a big crowd, however the publicity was late. I only heard about it the day before. We were also disappointed by the number of Canadians there. It seemed that many of the participants were from the U.S.

One of our friends at Vancouver Native Pentacostal Church is going to Uganda next week and will be taking food for these children and will be sharing their faith through introducing people to their culture. I am so excited they are going. They will have a powerful presence there sharing their native culture and what they went through as a people in Canada. We went last night to their presentation of the Uganda team. It is amazing how so many of the participants has experienced major transformation through their faith in Jesus. Many of the participants have experienced deep pain because of their culture identy. However all of them have found a deep afirmation of their culture in Jesus. It is amazing because they can now worship God in wholeness once they found that the way they express themselves with drums, singing and dancing is a glorious gift in worship. It was a great night of worship.

Tomorrow Night

2006-04-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

is a big global demonstration to raise awareness of the Invisible Children. I am looking forward for the Vancouver demonstration. I will try to post some pictures. Click on the ling above to read more about it.

Here are some details:
WE ARE CLOSING OUR EYES TO OPEN THE WORLDS TO AN UNSEEN WAR. BY LYING DOWN, WE ARE JOINING THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN IN NORTHERN UGANDA, AND DEMANDING THAT OUR GOVERNMENT PUT AN END TO THE LONGEST RUNNING WAR IN AFRICA, AND ONE OF THE WORST CRISES IN THE WORLD TODAY.

FACTS:
NORTHERN UGANDA CALLED THE WORST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN THE WORLD TODAY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ATTENTION
1.7 MILLION PEOPLE FORCIBLY DISPLACED
AN ESTIMATED 20- 50,000 CHILDREN ABDUCTED TO FIGHT AS SOLDIERS
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN COMMUTING NIGHTLY
130 PEOPLE DIE PER DAY IN NORTHERN UGANDA DUE TO VIOLENCE

ON APRIL 29TH IN OVER 130 CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THOUSANDS ARE LYING DOWN TO DEMAND THAT OUR GOVERNMENT TAKE A STAND AND PUT AN END TO CHILD ABDUCTION, THE NEED FOR NIGHT COMMUTING, AND WAR IN NORTHERN UGANDA.

WE ASK TWO THINGS:

PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SHOULD PRESS THE UNITED NATIONS AND YOWERI MUSEVENI TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO:

1. END THE CONFLICT AND PROTECT THE CIVILIANS IN NORTHERN UGANDA

2. ENSURE ADEQUATE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN (IN THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED CAMPS AND BEYOND)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE REFER TO:

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS FOR PEACE IN NORTHERN UGANDA (CSOPNU) http://www.nrc.no/UgandaKeyFacts.doc

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE (IRC)
http://www.theirc.org/news/page.jsp?itemID=28173324

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP (ICG)
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2346&l=1

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/uganda/reports.do

Just finished my last paper for the winter

2006-04-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

US Flag
Today I turned in my last paper for the end of the term and today I started another class.
Here is an excellent cartoon from El Salvdor.

San Salvador Cathedral

2006-04-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

San Salvador Cathedral
Originally uploaded by Afraid of Plaid.

Sadly we will not be back to El Savlador this summer. I really thoguth I would be able to get back with a trip from Vancouver going down. Unfortunatelly, there was no interst from the community here. Maybe next summer Lisa and I can get down. It is so cold here in Vancouver this spring that I miss the heat. I wish we could ship some of it up here.

El Salvador

2006-04-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

RIMG0687
Originally uploaded by Realyn.

Today, I am working on a paper for Exegesis on Psalms 2. As I am trying to understand this Psalm it rememinds me of my grandfather, Papa Nico. He was a big man with a big heart for God. I only got to meet him once because I was not allowed to go to El Salvador during the war. I did meet him when I was a little toddler, but I didn't remember him. Then I met him again when I was 16. He came to mind today as I was working on Psalm 2 because one of his goal in life was to memorize all of the Psalms. In the afternoon we would sit together and he would pick a Psalm and recite it to me. My job was to correct him so he would get it right. I had some good memories of those times in the shade of a metal roof reading the Psalms.

Julian Beever's Sidewalk Chalk Art

2006-04-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

Julian Beever
Originally uploaded by Centripetal Notion.

Check this guy out. This is some cool public art.

Baby Names

2006-04-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how crazy names can get for kids?
Ever heard about the urban legends of the twins Jemangelo and Orangelo?
I even knew a guy named Allen Caluer Haus (Sp?)
Well here are some names some stars picked out for their kids:
Hanoi, Moon Unit, Dweezil and Audio Science.
Wow.
You can check out the news article at the NY Times

2006-04-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article:
Can You Say, 'Bienvenidos'?

By Eugene Robinson:

White Americans, and black Americans too, are going to have to get used to sharing this country -- sharing it fully -- with brown Americans. Things are going to be different.
Deal with it.

Cool Ministry

2006-04-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

I met a guy that is doing some cool stuff in some of the most difficult places for Christians. He is working with Bible Lands. It is setup to simply encourage Christians. He told us about how a hospital in Nazareth is doing some of the best medical care in the city and it is done by Christians. I am so excited about his work.

Camping

2006-04-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been camping and thought, "I really want stink! I need a bathtub and a washing machine!" Well now you can get a portable washing machine! Astone Mobile Wash

I don't know how many people will really use this product.
Interesting stuff.

Think aobut it

2006-04-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

Psalm 8:9

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Cherry Blossoms Blooming

2006-04-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by Mel Dawg.

I am looking at cherry blossoms outside the library.
They are so beautiful in Vancouver, it makes me miss the cherry blossoms in DC. Lisa and I had lots of fun walking the tidal basin.

Yesterday, I met a woman who went down to DC for the National Prayer Breakfast and she told me how much she appreciated DC and how her and her husband had a wonderful time. It has been a long time since I heard someone to talk with fondness about Lisa and my hometown. In Vancouver you hear a lot of the negativity. So it warmed my heart to hear some good things.

Way to Go El Salvador

2006-04-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

I am excited to say that El Salvador is hosting the first Latin American Special Olympics or Olimpiadas especiales.

That's my people!

GMU

2006-04-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am proud of the GMU basketball men's team.
You guys made NOVA look good.

Too bad, I wish I could have watched the games.
You guys made it to the Final Four!!!!
Way to Go!

School Work

2006-03-27T16:55:00.000-08:00

I have been studying the following Psalm for one of my classes.
It has been amazing to learn more about the Psalms.
Psalms has the full range of human emotion and it was meant for us as a prayer book.
I don't know how to use it like that yet, but it has been a great exercise to dwell in one Psalm for the semester.
Here it is:

Psalm 2

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Psalm 2

The Reign of the LORD's Anointed

1Why do the nations rage[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."

4He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6"As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill."

7I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9You shall break[b] them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

10Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Footnotes:

Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule

Salmos 2 (Nueva Versión Internacional)

Copyright © 1999 by International Bible Society.

Salmos 2

1 ¿Por qué se sublevan las naciones,

y en vano conspiran los pueblos?

2 Los reyes de la tierra se rebelan;

los gobernantes se confabulan contra el Señor

y contra su *ungido.

3 Y dicen: «¡Hagamos pedazos sus cadenas!

¡Librémonos de su yugo!»

4 El rey de los cielos se ríe;

el Señor se burla de ellos.

5 En su enojo los reprende,

en su furor los intimida y dice:

6 «He establecido a mi rey

sobre *Sión, mi santo monte.»

7 Yo proclamaré el decreto del Señor:

«Tú eres mi hijo», me ha dicho;

«hoy mismo te he engendrado.

8 Pídeme,

y como herencia te entregaré las naciones;

¡tuyos serán los confines de la tierra!

9 Las gobernarás con puño[a] de hierro;

las harás pedazos como a vasijas de barro.»

10 Ustedes, los reyes, sean prudentes;

déjense enseñar, gobernantes de la tierra.

11 Sirvan al Señor con temor;

con temblor ríndanle alabanza.

12 Bésenle los pies,[b] no sea que se enoje

y sean ustedes destruidos en el camino,

pues su ira se inflama de repente.

¡*Dichosos los que en él buscan refugio!

Footnotes:

Salmos 2:9 2:9 puño. Lit. cetro.
Salmos 2:12 2:12 Bésenle los pies. Texto de difícil traducción.

Jack Black's video podcast

2006-03-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

You got to see the Nacho Libre, Jack Black's new movie podcasat.
It is so funny.

So exciting!!!!!!!!!

2006-03-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Wow!
What good news:

Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember are free!!

Doug Pritchard and Carol Rose co-directors of Christian Peacemaker Teams
Wrote:

Throughout these difficult months, we have been heartened by messages of concern for our four colleagues from all over the world. We have been especially moved by the gracious outpouring of support from Muslim brothers and sisters in the Middle East, Europe, and North America. That support continues to come to us day after day. We pray that Christians throughout the world will, in the same spirit, call for justice and for respect for the human rights of the thousands of Iraqis who are being detained illegally by the U.S. and British forces occupying Iraq.

I say Amen to that.

Nacho's Wedding

2006-03-20T15:18:00.000-08:00

This weekend Lisa and I went to David and Suzannah's wedding.
It was very beautiful.
My favorite line was from Pastor Dickau: "This marriage reminds me of the movie Beauty and the _______ Bolivian."

Lisa and I had a fun time hanging. We saw the movie Water. It was an excellent film. It was sad, but the acting was incredible. The little girl in the movie should have won an Oscar.

Then we saw Gospel to cheer us up because Water was sad. I would say that the music was okay. I was expecting more. The story line needed lots of help and the character development was not so good. The movie ended very well. I lilked the prodigal son like story at the end. There was a scene where the guy was praying at his father's grave that I thought was the best part of the movie. It seemed like the guy was really praying.

Well back to the books. I got a paper due tomorrow and a hebrew exam. Yikes!

Gangs

2006-03-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

It seems like there is a resurgence of interest in MS 13.
Wow!
I am sad that Salvadorians are getting so much negative mediat attention.
national geogprahics explorer had a special named The World's Most Dangerous Gang. I haven't seen the doc. I would like to see it. Anybody seen it?

i wounder why NG is taking an interest in this gang. Anybody know?

From what I heard when I was in El Salvador it seems like things in the country are getting worse and the gap b/t the poor and rich is widening. I hope that one day this little country will have an easier way of life. Life seems so tough for the poor there.

Zephaniah

2006-03-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

I was very surprised how interesting it has been to study this book. I wish I had more time to work on my sermon which I will be giving tomorrow night on Zephaniah 2 - 3:8. It is tough to pick out the passage, if I had more time I think I would like to do the whole book. It is a tough book to prepare, but I am privildged to study this book. My initial thought is that God was the first gangsta rapper.

David Chapell

2006-03-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

On Saturday Lisa and i saw David Chapell's Block Party.
I would like to see the iTunes interview with him, but I haven't bought it yet.
The music is great. It was fun seeing David interact with people from his hometown. It was great that the documentary chartered a bus and helped kids and adults from Ohio go to NYC for the first time. I loved the music on it, there were two things that dissapointed me. First, Common or Cody Chessnut were not give a spot on the documentary. Second, I was dissapointed in the comedy bit with Mos Def and David. I was expecting more since David said how funny Mos was. I felt like that did not live up to my expectations.

If it is possible this should happen every year. In my opinion, it went off without a hitch. I was very excited to see this documentary and I would be excited to see what the outcome of this would be. Oh yeah, I loved the music. Dead Prez was my favorite act.

Ben Harper

2006-03-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

I just bought Ben Harper's album Diamonds On the Inside because of his song I Am Blessed to Be a Witness.
Here are the lyrics:
*Corcovado parted the sky
And through the darkness
On us he shined
Crucified in stone
Still his blood is my own
Glory behold all my eyes have seen
I am blessed to be a witness

Some have flown away
And can’t be with us here today
Like the hills of my home
Some have crumbled and now are gone
Gather around for today won’t come again

I am blessed to be a witness

So much sorrow and pain
Still I will not live in vain
Like good questions never asked
Is wisdom wasted on the past
Only by the grace of God go i

I am blessed to be a witness
_______

Corcovado, meaning "hunchback" in Portuguese, is a mountain in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 710-meter peak is located in the Tijuca Forest, a national park. Corcovado mountain lies west of the city center but wholly within city limits and visible from great distances. It is known worldwide for the 30-meter statue of Jesus that graces its peak. The statue is called Christ the Redeemer, but is locally known as Cristo.

wings

2006-03-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

wings
Originally uploaded by charsuede.

Recently I have returned to an interest in architecture that I have not explored before. Santiago Calatrava is one architect that I would like to learn more about. His buildings and bridges are full of motion and life unique to him. One time I read he likes to get inspiration from nature and the wings of birds. You can totally see that in his buildings and bridges.

Oh no!!!

2006-03-01T12:58:00.000-08:00

DSC_5913
Originally uploaded by Christine&John.

Unbelievable, I am thirty now. I am in the fourth decade in my life. To the tweenies, "It is not as bad as it seems."

Regent Students

2006-02-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

You are not going to believe this new tool I just found through the UBC Library.
You got to checke it out.
It is called Ref Works.
When you set up your computer as a proxy server and go to the library website to look for journals just select import to refworks and you can create an account and it will make a bibliography for you in word format!!!!!
Can you blieve it.
It is like EndNote, but for free and you can import books into it and periodicals.
I can't believe I just found this thing.
check it out!!!!

Young Life Video

2006-02-15T20:35:00.000-08:00

Preaching

2006-02-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

I preached this past Sunday at my church. Every time I go up front I get so nervous. I wonder if I will ever get over this nerveousness.
You can check out the sermon in a couple days at Kits Christian Community

Cool Pictures

2006-02-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

Here are some beautiful pictures of China.
I wonder if they are real?China

iPod Give Away

2006-02-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

If you are limited on the funds why buy iTunes music for this contest, although I did buy a new album yesterday. However you can enter 25 times if you go here: Billion Song Entry Form. You can enter 25x a day!!!!!
Most peole I know don't have the kinda cash to buy 25 songs, so do it barrio style and enter the contest free!

Pepe Serna

2006-02-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

He has a one man show that sounds so funny.
He says, "In order to beat the Gringo in Bingo you gota learn the lingo mi hairmano."
Check out his website: Pepe Serna

Go Chile

2006-02-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

Michelle Bachelet
First president to choose half male and half female cabinet.
It will be interesting to watch President Bachelet and how she leads Chile in a time of reformation. She is trying to close the gap between the rich and poor. She takes over on March 11.
I am excited to watch how President Bachelet will try to make this happen.

"L'Eterno e' il mio pastore; nulla mi manchera'"

2006-02-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

"L'Eterno e' il mio pastore; nulla mi manchera'"
Originally uploaded by gwilmore.

This is Psalms 23 in Italian. However, I can't read Italian. I am memorizing it in Hebrew for my class. I just got my butt kicked by the Hebrew class today. I am so lost right now.

This has not been a good semester in regards to my studies.

This is a good Psalm to learn during this time.

Big words for a little hombre

2006-01-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by hukes.

So this is what I feel like.
The reading I have to do seems like it is so much bigger than me, engulfing me. However it is a good place because I am too lazy to read on my own. This graduate school is stretching me in big ways, but it is so stressful. Yesterday I got home around 10:30 PM from work and then I had to get up at 6 AM to get ready and go to my Hebrew vocab quiz. Lots of words. I am trying to learn a new langauge!!! Argh! I can't even speak correct english or spanish. Estoy loco y choco! I think I need new glasses because words are starting to appear blurry. I am scared of getting bifocals because that will make me feel older, but I have had bad eyes since grade six (Candadian style of saying school years). I was the nerdy boy with huge glasses. If i lined up the two lenses I could see the moon!

calla lily

2006-01-26T14:03:00.000-08:00

calla lily
Originally uploaded by omnia.

The calla lily is our favorite flower. I love how it is just a simple yet elegant flower. Here is a wonderful picture. I discovered this flower when I was shopping for Lisa's birthday when we were dating. This flowers represents so many fond memories of our lives together. We even used calla lilies in our wedding.

Love you Lisa.

Graffiti Jesus

2006-01-25T21:56:00.000-08:00

IMG_1434
Originally uploaded by draggin.

Never know where you will find Jesus.

Full Moon Rising Over Vancouver Panorama

2006-01-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

Full Moon Rising Over Vancouver Panorama
Originally uploaded by gordonb.

On Friday, Lisa will be presenting on missions at Missions Fest this weekend. I am excited for Lisa because this gives Lisa an opportunity to use her excellent teaching skills.

We plan to check out the sessions on Saturday.

Lots going on this week here at Regent. Lots of books to read and hebrew to study.

Lisa's Birthday is next week!!!!!
We have another excuse to have fun and party together.

Reading

2006-01-21T11:14:00.000-08:00

Back to the reading again.
I am doing Exegesis, Preaching and Worship, and Hebrew second part of first year.
Exegesis reading is good, but hard to get through quickly.
I want to learn to do it well because this is one of the most important parts of preaching.
The problem is that I get distracted to easy and I begin to blog or write other things.

It is a rainy day so I don't feel too bad being inside.
Yesterday Lisa and I tried to go to this long jetty near the airport, but sadly we got lost and then there was a mean guy at the gate. They lock up the part after 5 PM and we went to the wrong park and he was not helpful at all. He just told us to get out of the park and we were lost. Park people are either very helpful or very grumpy. I guess they got to deal with people all day and it wears on you at the end. The best park people I met were on Oregon's coastal parks. They were so much fun. One of the park rangers took my friend and I on a tour of the berries at the park and showed us the best ones to eat. Also at Yellowstone I met some nice rangers. Canada has yet to impress me. That is surprising since Canadians are suppossed to be helpful. I guess I can't judge all Canadian park people on the basis of one guy here in Richmond.

Anyone heard some good music recently?

Kite Runner

2006-01-18T16:51:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I finished Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
It was not an enjoyable read in the sense that it did not make me feel happy or good, but it was about real life and I felt like it did not shy away from the tough things in life.

The NY Times Book Review (on the back cover) said, "a story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love." I would agree on the fierce cruelty, but I don't know about the redeeming love. It seemed that the main character was seeking redemption of his own haunting past rather than loving the child that was in need of redemption. I guess at the end I can see the love, but it seemed that the parents never were able to really love the child.

It was a hard read. There were points in the book that I thought, why and I reading this because it is making me depressed. Then there were moments where I was able to see life from a different perspective and that made me keep reading. Also what kept me reading was the need to see the main character redeemed out of the deep pain he was living.

One of the things that fascinated me was the importance of prayer throughout the story. I would like to sit and talk to a Muslim person about prayer because it was so central. I lent the book to a friend and I am excited to hear what he has to say.

Currently I am reading the Chonic-What-Cles of Narnia. That is a drastic difference to Kite Runner. I am interested in reading I Am Charlotte Simmons next, but I don’t know if the book will live up to the hype. Tom Wolfe’s next book is of more interest to me. I don’t know the title, but it will be on the life of immigrants in the US. Since he is writing on current themes, my guess is that the book has to involve a Latin American family.

Redskins

2006-01-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

Skins
It was a tough game this weekend. The Skins could not pull off the win, but I am proud of the Skins.
I was in Washington state during the game. That was not fun.
But I am proud to cheer for the DC team.
Cant' wait for next season.

All the games were close and very dramatic.
The Colts and Steelers game was such a roller coaster.
It should be an interesting Super Bowl.
I can't believe the Steelers, Broncos, and Pathers made it this far.
Wow!
What a season.

I am man enough

2006-01-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

Dante
I am man enough to say I watch Oprah.
A couple days ago I watched Jay Leno on the Oprah Show and he was introducing Amazing Kinds. You got to watch this guy Dante dance, he can get down. I didn't get to watch the whole show, but he was my favorite kid. Check out the two clips by clicking here.

Inner Healing Class

2006-01-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

Inner Healing Class
Originally uploaded by phritz.

This was our last gathering last year with our Inner Healing Class. It was so sad to end the class. It was so much fun and informative.

So tired

2006-01-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

Yes! I have just arrived from Charlotte, NC.
It was a great trip and I am thourghly exhausted.
My goal today is to catch up on emails and rest and read.
I picked up Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
What a tragic story.
I am only halfway through, once I finish I will write what I think.

Hopefully now I will be able to blog some more now that I am a little more settled down.

Back to the Couve

2005-12-30T16:59:00.000-08:00

Lisa adn I are on our way home tomorrow from Washington, DC.
We are very sad to leave our home but we are also excited to return to Vancouver. It is a bitter sweet departure as we prepare to leave. We love our family and friends very much here at home. We had a wonderful time with family and friends this Christmas.

For our friends in DC you got to go to this exhibit at the National Cathedral

The First Noel:
The Annual Crèche Exhibit
November 21, 2005–January 8, 2006
Monday–Saturday 10 am–4 pm; Sunday 1–4 pm
Rare Book Library Exhibit Room

We also got to see a wonderful exhibit on portraits from Latin America called Retratos. Check these two art exhibits if you are in DC.

Hasta la proxima mis amig@s en DC.

December 10 is International Human Rights Day

2005-12-09T15:44:00.000-08:00

Stop the War in Iraq.
Pray and love your enemies.

That is all I want to say in support of the peace vigils and tomorrow's International Day of Human Rights!

Christian Peacemaker Teams

2005-12-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

Let us remember to pray for the CPT memebers being held hostage.

Here are some words from Oscar Romero:

Be converted! Be reconciled!
Love one another! Fashion a people of the baptized a family of God's children!
Those who think that my preaching is political, that it incites to violence, as though I were the cause of all the evils in the land, forget that the church's word does not invent the evils in the world; it casts a light on them.
The light shows what is there, it does not create it. The great evil is already there, and God's word wants to undo those evils.
It points them out, as it must, for people to return to right ways.

Here is an article I read today from Sojourners.

Advent in Iraq, Rush Limbaugh, and reality
by Ryan Beiler

In August this year I began considering participation in a Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation to Iraq in November. With much prayer by friends and family, I began my discernment process, weighing the obvious risks. In Colombia I had traveled through territory controlled by guerillas with a penchant for kidnapping. In Gaza I had fled from warning shots fired by Israeli soldiers. But I had never walked in solidarity with people whose land had been invaded and occupied by my own nation's military. I struggled with the notion expressed by kidnapped peacemaker Norman Kember, the heart of the CPT mission: am I willing to take the same risks for peace that those in the military take for war?

As weeks passed, circumstances and logistics dictated my choice not to go. The November delegation had filled up before I could join. And even before Kember, and fellow team members Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney, and Tom Fox were taken hostage on Nov. 26, I had been told that my primary reason for going - photojournalism - would not be worthwhile because of the team's own security precautions.

Tomorrow is the day that the so-called Swords of Righteousness Brigade have set for the peacemakers' execution if U.S. forces do not release all detainees held in Iraq. So today, with a vague sense of survivor's guilt, I reflect on the impending miracle or tragedy of these men's lives.

Their survival would be a miracle. And yet, statements of support from the likes of Hamas and cleric Abu Qatada, a suspected al Qaeda terrorist imprisoned in the U.K., are already miraculous. Our enemies - by any conventional definition - have appealed for the release of our friends. The cynic will say that support from such quarters merely confirms that CPT must be as anti-American as the terrorists. But hints of parable permeate: The Samaritan, a despised foreigner and outcast to Jesus' audience, disregards religious and ethnic division to aid one in need, while countrymen preoccupied with their own purity pass by.

Indeed, Rush Limbaugh is glad these "leftist feel-good hand-wringers" are being "shown reality." To follow his version of the parable, they'd never have fallen among thieves if they hadn't been walking on the road to Jericho in the first place. His reference to reality is intriguing, coming in support of an administration now widely regarded as out of touch with the reality in Iraq. Promises that we would be greeted as liberators, that Iraq would pay for its own invasion with oil revenue, that we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were, that only a few troops would be needed - all evaporated in the face of a reality that the likes of Limbaugh can only imagine, while the men and women of the armed forces, CPT members, and the people of Iraq experience its horror on a daily basis.

Hawks are always eager to chide doves that though war is hell, it's the only realistic course to security. But frankly, their reality is terrible. While the body count in Iraq surpasses 10 times that of Sept. 11 (I will not here discriminate between theirs and ours), this week the 9/11 Commission has issued a report card filled with Ds and Fs - evidence that while our military misadventures overseas have exacted billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives, measures at home that could truly make us safer have been neglected. Katrina is merely one case in point.

Jesus warned us, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). Watching file footage of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz, and hearing their hollow promises followed by claims of "mission accomplished" - one is not sure whether to laugh at the absurdity or cry at the resulting tragedies such as Abu Ghraib. "A few bad apples," we were told. "You will know them by their fruits," Jesus said (v. 16).

But in stark contrast with neo-con messiah complex fantasies, Tom Fox had no illusions about the dangers he would face in Iraq. "I am to stand firm against the kidnapper as I am to stand firm against the soldier," he wrote more than a year ago. "Does that mean I walk into a raging battle to confront the soldiers? Does that mean I walk the streets of Baghdad with a sign saying ‘American for the Taking?' No to both counts. But if Jesus and Gandhi are right, then I am asked to risk my life, and if I lose it to be as forgiving as they were when murdered by the forces of Satan."

Far from "feel-good hand-wringers," these men knew the difference between good and evil, and that living out Christ's call is costly. They were so in touch with reality that officials preferred to ignore that they denounced abuses at Abu Ghraib long before the photographs came out - before anyone was listening.

I could denounce the Swords of Righteousness Brigade for threatening to kill the people who have defended the very detainees they demand be released, but that doesn't seem productive at this moment. Instead, I stand astonished as other Muslims - militants, politicians, and religious leaders - defend these captive Christians, and Jesus' upside-down kingdom glimmers. CPT's risky Christianity, broadcast by al Jazeera, has done more to promote mutual understanding and goodwill than any ham-handed tour by Karen Hughes, the U.S. State Department's head public relations envoy.

This week's advent theme is promise - the promise that a true and trustworthy savior is coming. We are called to cast aside false prophets and anticipate a messiah who was willing to become vulnerable, to enter dangerous territory, to put his life in the hands of those who couldn't tell enemies from neighbors, and taught us to love them all. 1 John 2:17 tells us, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." If this seems unrealistic, we now have four more witnesses to the contrary. While in a spirit of Advent anticipation we wait and pray that tomorrow will bring a new promise of life, I am confident that as they walk in his steps, the Christ who defeated death will work more miracles regardless of grim realities.

Ryan Beiler is web editor for Sojourners.

Dallaire's book

2005-12-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

In Romeo Dallaire's book Shake Hands With the Devil he writes:

What is the reason for this marche seul by the developed nations? In the last decades of the twentieth century, self-interest, sovereignty and taking care of number one became the primary criteria for any serious provision of support or resources to the globeÂs trouble spots. If the country in question is of any possible strategic value to the world powers, then it seems that everything from covert operations to the outright use of overwhelming force is fair game. If it is not, indifference is the order of the day (520).

The only conclusion I can reach is that we are in desperate need of a transfusion of humanity. If we believe that all humans are human, then how are we going to prove it? It can only be proven through our action. Through the dollars we are prepared to expend to improve conditions in the Third World, through the time and energy we devote to solving devastating problems like AIDs, through the lives of our soldiers, which we are prepared to sacrifice for the sake of humanity (522).

I think this is a strong statement coming from a guy that actually did risk a lot for the Rwandans. I think that we need to look we in the States should be thinking more than our self-interests and I agree with what this guys is saying. However, I do struggle with this because I don't think we should be an international police force, but I do think he is right on by suggesting that the UN revive their peacekeeping efforts and that the global community should support this endeavor.

Ecclesiastes 4:18

2005-11-25T13:01:00.000-08:00

Wisdom is better than warheads,

But one hothead can ruin the good earth.

Funny quote

2005-11-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

I am reading C. Peter Wagner's book Taking Our Cities For God.
He writes:

When we are single we long for the intimacy of marriage—just to have somebody to have somebody of “my own.” We fantasize about moments of emotional and physical intimacy. Eventually we may bet married and face the reality of actually dividing our time, money and space with another person. That’s when we discover how much we really need Jesus.(206)

The emphasis is mine.

World on Fire

2005-11-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

World On Fire Video
Check out this video.
I just heard about it last week and I saw it for the first time.
It is a powerful message.
She shows the cost of what a video would cost and how she spent the money on relief than on production of the video.
WOW!!
Great stuff.
Way to go Sara M!

Good Album

2005-11-23T21:39:00.000-08:00

ROOTS
You gota check this group out.
I love that their music isn't sampled, but it is a real band doing their thing.
This is some good music.

Tired

2005-11-23T21:29:00.000-08:00

Hebrew Vowel Chart

So end of semster crunch is here!
I posted a picture of what I am studying so you can see it too.
Teaching Spanish for a year has helped me in the study of this language.
What a suprise!
Sometimes I wish I did this class first before I taught because our prof does some good things explaining the language that I could of used in Spanish.
Well I got to stop procrastinating.

I got a Hebrew Exam tomorrow and I can't study anymore!!!
It has been so great to learn about this language and how the Bible was written.
Love learning, but I don't like taking these tests.

Neat little story

2005-11-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

The little goldfish asked, “Why is the water so cold sometimes?”
“I don’t know”, said the elderly wise goldfish.
“Why is it so warm sometimes,” the little goldfish asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Then how,” the little goldfish asked, “can you say the human master is a good master if sometimes the water in this bowl is warm, and sometimes the water is cold.”
“I know,” the elderly wise goldfish replied, “because there’s water.”
Written by:
rhymes with kerouac
at
http://www.urbanonramps.com/archives/672#comments

Rapture Lofts

2005-11-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

Development continues in DC.
This article raises some important questions when gentrification offers a lucrative offer to a small church.
A Boom Giveth, and It Taketh Away
Here are some excerpts from the article:

When Church of the Rapture sells for $10 million this year, the Pentecostal storefront on the corner of 14th and T streets NW hits the jackpot. Pastor Theresa Garrison always says that God channels his wishes through her, and when He said, "Sell," it was near the peak of a commercial real estate boom on 14th Street. . .

To the outside world, the church is a mystery, a big slab on the corner with double-parked cars. When drums and organs are bringing the congregation to a boil, sometimes the muffled fury and sharp cymbals seep from the building, causing a man to pause one night outside a prayer service and ask, "Is that a jazz club?"

Lawrence Guyot walks the sidewalks of Shaw, watching as small black businesses and institutions are replaced by real estate development and the whims of newcomers. "There is a total avoidance of the value and history of the people we are dealing with," says Guyot, a community activist and former member of a Ward 1 Advisory Neighborhood Commission. "How many people in that area put themselves in mind of the parishioners? What does it do to you, when a church, the place you worship, vanishes? It's not just another building."

Guyot knows the story line is not that simple. The church struck a lucrative deal and is ready to go. "What's the best way to exit with grace and aplomb?" Guyot asks. "Millions of dollars is the answer."

What would you do if you were in their shoes?
This is a tough question.
What happens when the church goes and expensive conds move in and the neighborhood is left behind?
This is a curse and a blessing.
It would be interesting to follow the church and how the church stewards the money.

Abyss

2005-11-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

I am about to enter the abyss of the final month of classes.
During this time there is hardly any time for breathing, but just cranking out the work I got to do.
Blah!
So my blog will be uninteresting over the next few weeks. It has been most of the semester since I haven't had much time to blog. But what can you do?

We had a wonderful time in Washington this weekend at Bob Eckblad's class.
It was a great time of learning and praying. Bob has a passion to see the Gospel lived in power among people on the margins. It is amazing to see what he is up to. If you ever get a chance to go to his ministry, you shoud go.

Pre-Order the Roots

2005-11-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

I just bought my first pre-order of an album on iTunes.
Check out The Roots' Homegrown: A Beginners Guide to Understanding the Roots, Vols. 1 & 2.
I can't wait to get this album. ?uestlove over sees the remastering of this album.

Late Blog

2005-11-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have been able to blog.
Tests and papers coming up during this time that has made it difficult to blog.
A few weeks ago my parents were here.
Here is a picture of my parent's visiting Caleb and Tara.

It was fun having them out here to see Vancouver and getting to know our friends and church family.
This weekend Lisa and I will be in WA for our class with Bob Eckblad.
We are looking forward to it.

Currently Reading

2005-10-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
by Chris Hedges
In an interview with Bob Abernathy he said:

This isn't a book that is going to be used in peace studies programs, necessarily. It certainly exposes the evil of war, the poison of war; it says not only that there are nevertheless times we have to wage war, but also that it is morally imperative for us to use violence -- certainly in the cases of Kosovo, Sarajevo, Rwanda.

So far I have read two chapters and it has been a fascinating look into the culture of war and the mythologizing needed to sustain a war. He gives a sober look at war, but at the same time not belitteling soldiers who are in war. I reccomend this book and its thoughtful reflection on how humans behave in war. He said he wrote this book to inspire compassion and mercy and I pray that we as a country will be know for being merciful and compassionate.

graffiti: que vivan los campesinos

2005-10-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

graffiti: que vivan los campesinos
Originally uploaded by Sean Hawkey.

I just liked this simple graffti. Right On, Hermano!

Bowen Isl 2

2005-10-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

20051024 - Bowen Isl 2
Originally uploaded by phritz.

Here is our friend Alex on the balcony of the cabin we went to for the retreat.

Julio and Lisa

2005-10-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

Julio and Lisa
Originally uploaded by phritz.

This is me and Lisa in the water taxi on the way to our retreat.

Tram

2005-10-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

Tram
Originally uploaded by phritz.

This past Sunday to Tues. Lisa and I went to a retreat with our Inner Healing and Deliverance class. It was wonderful to get away with the class and practice what we are learning. This has been a wonderful class that has deepened my faith.

This is a picture of the tram that lifted our stuff to the cabin up on a cliff.

Caleb

2005-10-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

Caleb
Originally uploaded by julio and Lisa.

Tara went out of town for a week for a wedding as well. One night Caleb and I hung out for dinner because we didn't have our wives that night. We had a romantic dinner with candle light. (Just kidding) We had some tacos and talked about football and how we miss good Latin food in Vancouver.

Fadi and Stephany's Wedding

2005-10-13T16:20:00.000-07:00

All of Us
Originally uploaded by julio and Lisa.

This past weekend Lisa, Rev. Esper (Lisa's Dad) and me went to her cousin's wedding. Fadi moved here from Syria and Stephany came from Haiti. It was a beautiful wedding and a great gathering of family and friends. I have never seen such an empty table area during the dancing at a wedding. Everyone was getting down with the Haitian grooves.

We got to hear Sweek Micky for the first time. Lisa and I really liked the music. We are happy that the family from Syria is mixing it up with the Latin American flava. It makes me and Lisa happy to see more of the Arab Latin mix happening.

Johnson Back in India

2005-10-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

Pastor Johnson at Regent Carey
Pastor Johnson Sigiri has returned to India. He was here in Vancouver using Regent's library for a writing project.
Lisa and I became good friends with him. We miss him.
He shared with us about the transformative work of the Gospel among the untouchables in South India.
He gave a great lecture here at Regent called, "The Unfolding of a Lotus: The Efficacy of Truth and Grace".

Reading the Bible With the Dammed

2005-10-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

Currently I am reading this book. It is an excellent book and offers a new insight into life as a marginalized disciple of Christ. I reccomend reading this book if you get a chance. You can see more at Tierra Nueva.

On Friday there is an intesting event at UBC.

Making Poverty History: What Can Canadians Really Do? A Central and South American Perspective

Friday October 14

UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street.Room C225

12:15-1:15

Free

Race Issues in US

2005-10-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

So what is going on in the US now?
I know I am late on the blog, but I thought I would put some thoughts on my blog since I have been out of the blog scene lately.

How do things look in the US on this issue?
It has been quiet here in Canada as to what they see from the Hurricane. However it seems like things are sending up red flags for me.

William Bennett says: "[Y]ou could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down"

A Specious 'Experiment' by Eugene Robinson
He writes:

I have a thought experiment of my own: If we put our racial baggage on the table and talk about it, we'll begin to take care of a lot of unfinished business.

I thought his assesment of Bennett was fair. He doesn't lambast Bennett, which is easy to do for such an ingnorant statement. I thought it was a good op-ed piece.

Another thing suprised me was Kanye's comment on the Red Cross Fundraiser.
Here it is if you missed it:

I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, "They're looting." You see a white family, it says, "They're looking for food." And, you know, it's been five days [waiting for federal help] because most of the people are black. And even for me to complain about it, I would be a hypocrite because I've tried to turn away from the TV because it's too hard to watch. I've even been shopping before even giving a donation, so now I'm calling my business manager right now to see what is the biggest amount I can give, and just to imagine if I was down there, and those are my people down there. So anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help -- with the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible. I mean, the Red Cross is doing everything they can. We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way -- and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us!"

When I saw him talk I thought he had fliped out. It seemed like he didn't really know what to day. I thought it was wild. Mike Myers didn't seem to know what to do. It was funny how they made fun of it on SNL. I was a little dissapointed on his song choices or even his lyrics. I thought he could have made a stronger stance by doing some different songs, maybe "Diamonds from Sierra Leon" to talk more about his statements on the fundraiser or even written another song to expand more on his criticism of the US government. I did like the orchestra he had on the show. It was powerful to hear all the strings with the rap.

Cornell West writes:

Now the black bourgeoisie have an even heavier obligation to fight for the 33 per cent of black children living in poverty - and to alleviate the spiritual crisis of hopelessness among young black men.

Bush talks about God, but he has forgotten the point of prophetic Christianity is compassion and justice for those who have least. Hip-hop has the anger that comes out of post-industrial, free-market America, but it lacks the progressiveness that produces organisations that will threaten the status quo. There has not been a giant since King, someone prepared to die and create an insurgency where many are prepared to die to upset the corporate elite. The Democrats are spineless.

There is the danger of nihilism and in the Superdome around the fourth day, there it was - husbands held at gunpoint while their wives were raped, someone stomped to death, people throwing themselves off the mezzanine floor, dozens of bodies.

It was a war of all against all - 'you're on your own' - in the centre of the American empire. But now that the aid is pouring in, vital as it is, do not confuse charity with justice. I'm not asking for a revolution, I am asking for reform. A Marshall Plan for the South could be the first step.

So what is next for NO or the rest of the South? or What will we do to resist the power of racism in the US.

I have been reading William Stringfellow's book "An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land". Check it out some time. I like what he had to say in there.

Rate my professor

2005-09-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

I just found out about this website, check out the Regent College rating.

Higher Ground

2005-09-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

You can hear highlights of the benifit concert at High Ground Concert. It is nice to hear it when you can't make it to the concert.