yo hablo espanol.

i feel a bit at a loss for what to write about-- life is fast-paced, and exciting, and when i pause to blog about it, so many thoughts run through my mind and it's hard to squeeze them out my fingers in a clear and concise format. that's why i ramble :o)

i am in San Juan, Puerto Rico right now. b-e-a-utiful. my Vancouver-saturated-self is soaking up as much sun and warmth as it can. it's nice not to have wet shoes and pant legs for a few days.
i think that the most beautiful part of San Juan is La Perla. it's a small slum community on the outskirts of Old San Juan, right on the coast. apparently the government is trying to pay La Perla citzens big bucks to move, because it's smack dab in the middle of tourist heaven. they think it's an eye sore. but i thought it was beautiful...because it's real. i can only deal with so much idyllic scenery, so many shops and starbucks and ancient ruins, before i get bored. those shacks however...i could have walked through there for days.
La Perla means "The Pearl," ironically.
to the human eye, this place has nothing in commmon with a pristine, valuable, sparkling white pearl. but-- "the Kingdom of God is like a pearl..." (Matthew 13).
614 La Perla? i'm in.

yesterday i took a trip to St. Thomas. i think that it was the most beautiful place i have ever been in my entire life. literally. aqua blue water, flowers everywhere, high mountains, Tommy Hilfiger stores (meh), cruise ships, Caribbean music (i dug that). it was a lovely trip. when i arrived they said, "welcome to Paradise!"

i met a 5 year old boy who is holy.
when he was introduced to me, they said, "he is a very good boy. he never does anything bad. his heart is pure."
hallelujah. this supports Brengle when he says-- "holiness is not maturity, but purity." it also supports our Salvation Army Doctrine # 10 when it says "We believe that it is the privelege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirits, souls and bodies may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
all believers. even a 5 year old.

the Uprising: a holy revolution? is complete.
it's being edited, and i'm working on a discussion guide after every chapter.

and we're working on a package deal: a division buys books for all of their Youth Councils delegates, and Stephen or i will come out and either preach or do a workshop.
deal? good! just let us know.