Correction

I'm sorry I gave you the wrong web address. It is www.utsglobaltrips.com.

It was an amazing experience that I'm still trying to process. Some of my reflections will find their way into my Easter sermon. And then I'll do a Search and Discovery on April 18th. And I plan to share my notes in future blog entries.

Thank you for your prayers for our safety.
David

For more on the trip

I am not having time to blog regularly with 24 people using one slow computer during the one or two hours we are not busy '
However, there is a blog being kept by the whole group and I encourage you to visit it for more information on what we are doing

www.utsglobaltrips.org

I will just let you know, I am doing well. The accomodations are sufficient and not having hot water is NOT a problem. The weather is not too hot, but it´s hot enough! The experiences we are having are priceless. Last night we walked in a candlelight procession to the Cathedral, after hearing the president of El Salvador address the crowd. Everyone marveled because that has never happened before. I walked two feet away from him during part of the procession. Really cool. Today we drove out of the capitol a few hours to a mountain village where they are trying to keep a mining company out. Very interesting international tale, and learning alot about CAFTA. Tomorrow we go out into the country again.

Thank you for your prayers. We are well and learning a lot.
David

We made it

Hello. I´m in El Salvador now, at the guest house where the group of 23 we are staying. San Salvador is a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains, although, not mountains like we´re used to in Denver. So far everything as been smooth. Today is a big day. We´re going to the University and will hear one of the giants of liberation theology speak ' Jon Sobrino. Yesterday we learned about the history of the country and US involvement over the years...especially the massive amounts of military aid given during their civil war. The saddest comment by the presenter was that things have not changed with the new administration. They had great hopes that the foreign policy of the US would substantially change...
David

Preparing for El Salvador

I'm leaving for El Salvador on Wednesday, part of a group of students, faculty and alumni from United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities - my alma mater in 1990. The biggest reason, for me, is to participate in the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. He is a hero of liberation theologians and a big influence on me during seminary. Romero was killed by a right-wing government out to silence anyone - including many priests and nuns - who spoke up for the poor who were being oppressed. For a good movie on the subject, watch Romero, starring Raul Julia.

Anyway, my hope is to blog from San Salvador. I'm told there is an internet cafe down the street from the house where we are staying (no air conditioning or hot water for showers... yikes). So, keep checking. I will return on March 26.

Peace and Blessings to you, David

What to Give Up - Part 3

Give up negativism - be positive
Give up anger - be more patient
Give up pettiness - grow up!

Social Justice, Social Justice, Social Justice, Social Justice

Glen Beck directed his viewers this week to scour the website of their church for the words Social Justice - and that if they found these words, to leave their church and report them to the "church authorities." I wanted to make sure that you didn't have to look too hard. We are proud to be Social Justice Christians. Actually, it's not about pride. It is simply the heart of the gospel. It is impossible to read Jesus' words (or the Torah, the Prophets) without noticing that the requirement of our faith is to build a society in which justice and peace reign. This is the Kingdom of God. It is simply not negotiable.

What to Give Up - Part 2

Give up discouragement - be full of hope
Give up bitterness - turn to forgiveness
Give up hatred - return good for evil

Repentance

"Repentance is more than being sorry. It means being different." Brian McClaren

God Has a Dream

"God has a dream for creation. And humans are turning it into a nightmare." Brian McClaren

"Our Best" vs. "Their Worst"

Why is it that whenever we try to mount a persuasive argument, we always try to compare "our best" people with "their worst" people. This question was part of the lecture series by Brian McLaren at Montview Presbyterian Church on Friday night.

What to Give Up

Give up complaining - focus on gratitude
Give up pessimism - become an optimist
Give up harsh judgments - think kindly

Who's the real cheat?

"For years I heard from legislators and television pundits that they would not support food stamps for the hungry, welfare for the poor, or housing for the homeless because poor people would just take advantage of it all. Even though fraud in food stamps and other government programs costs the American taxpayer only pennies a year, those arguments worked almost every time. Now, instead of a safety net for the poor, we have one for some of the wealthiest people in the world, and one that costs us not pennies, but billions of dollars." Jim Wallis, Sojourners Magazine, February 2010 - from his new book Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street

Changing Direction

From one of my favorite Maya Angelou stories: "Each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the roads which lie ahead, and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising, and the roads back uninviting, then we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction. If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we much be ready to change that as well." New Directions from I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now

Why are politicians so mean?

"The culture wars are not about the truth; they are about power" Dr. Joel C. Hunter, Sojourners Magazine, February 2010