Sk8er Boy

2013-05-27T22:25:00.000-06:00

Rock bottom. I think it's so important that we understand what those two words mean. The reality is that some of our friends, acquaintances, and colleagues may be in that place right now. The reality is that thousands of people in our country and around the world are there right now. I think it's important to understand the pain they're going through, be able to sympathize with them, and have compassion for them.

Here are two poems written by a good friend of mine, Jessica. Her drawing Heart of Hearts is also featured above.

☙ ❦ ❧ ❦ ☙ ❦ ❧

Addiction

A needle pricks the pale flesh that is draped over shrinking muscles and red bones.
He is the unwanted; the unloved.
No one sees him; no one wants to see him.
People accuse him of being a bum or a whore,
But they don’t see that he has to fight to live.
They don’t see him being molested and raped.
So he has to run away and he runs himself off a cliff.
He takes the demon in a shot of heroin.
And he has no control.
His body craves poison, and if he does take he will die.
But he knows it will kill him slowly.
But to others he is already dead.
He then smiles in agony, knowing that his death may make some foot note in the day’s news.
He knows though that he is unwanted.
He knows that no one cares.
And so he walks up and down;
Waiting, waiting.
Dreaming of a better tomorrow.

☙ ❦ ❧ ❦ ☙ ❦ ❧

Depression

My heart sunk. Too deep, too deep in to the shadows... Tears flood my mind and pour out of me. I cannot see the path that lays before me. I am just being played by the others around me. Like a dead puppet that lost her strings. Watch her cry, watch her die. Let her suffer, Let her lie. I wander though this world, blinded by the thoughts of others, suffering from my hand. These lies, these lies. Why can't I escape? Every step turns into a trail of blood. Every tear is hidden. I cannot get out, this feeling in my soul stays. I cannot get out, can I withstand this pain? I cannot get out, tears screaming in the dark.

Desire

2013-05-14T20:53:00.000-06:00

If you desire popularity, know that there will always be people way more sought after than you.

If you desire praise, know that there will always be people much more deserving of it.

If you desire to be beautiful, know that there will always be people who appear much more beautiful than you.

If you desire beauty, know that there will always places and objects more majestic, elegant, and sublime.

If you desire to be trendy, know that that there will always be people more au courant.

If you desire knowledge, know that for every subject and speciality you learn about, there will always be people who knows a heckofalot more than you.

If you desire wisdom, know that there will always be people who can come up with better solutions in less time.

If you desire to be religious, know that you will always find people who make you look like a miscreant.

If you desire sexual fulfilment, know that the term is an oxymoron outside of marriage.

If you desire money, know that there will always be people with 100 times more money than you.

If you desire God, know that He is not far from any one of us.

If you desire love, seek God.

If you desire joy, seek God.

If you desire peace, seek God.

2013-04-16T20:43:00.002-06:00

An unborn child is not just another body part of the mother. Every child is a human being with his or her own unique DNA and his or her own separate circulatory system! Children often have a blood type different from their mother, even while in the womb.

It is our government's job to protect all Canadians from discrimination, and unborn children are the only group of human beings in Canada today who are denied human rights protections by our government.

It's time to show the world that unborn children are human beings. It's time to stop funding abortions with taxpayer money. It's time to support pregnant women and help them make the right choice. It is time to save the thousands of unborn children killed every year in Canada.

Christian Music 101

2013-04-09T20:09:00.001-06:00

What is Christian music?

Christian music is not a genre; rather, it is a very broad category of music made by followers of Christ who want to glorify God in some way with their art. "Christian music" is much like the extensive term "Canadian music" – rather than being restricted to one specific form, it is a quite general term that can be applied to music in virtually every genre. There are two basic types of Christian music:

Worship music is the kind of music that is suitable for singing in church services. These songs usually have "vertical lyrics," meaning that the lyrics of the song are addressed specifically to God, so the people worshiping feel like they are singing to God directly. This includes hymns, gospel music, and contemporary worship. Even within worship music there is a wide range of musical styles, from solemn, traditional renderings of 18th century hymns to the upbeat experimental post-rock songs of Gungor and Bellarive.

Nonworship music is music written by Christians to glorify God, but meant for general listening rather than being played in a church service for worship. Although there are so-called "Christian record labels," there are also many Christians who publish music with secular, mainstream record labels. The Christian rock scene is vibrant, including the symphonic metal band Skillet, the alternative surf rock band Switchfoot, and the Canadian metal band Thousand Foot Krutch. The Christian rap/hip hop scene is also thriving, led by rappers such as TobyMac and Lecrae.
Classical music owes a great deal of its success to Christian composers and patrons. Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest composers of all time, was a devout Lutheran and devoted every one of his works "to the glory of God." Christians have also played a large part in the history of country music; Johnny Cash himself was unashamed to say he was a Christian, and sang a number of gospel songs. I've also listened to Christian artists from the genres of synth-pop (Owl City), electronic dance music (GodsDJ s.com), jazz (Christian Jazz Artists Network), reggae (Papa San), acoustic rock (Mat Kearney), and even beatboxing (Peterpot).

How much does a band need to sing about God to be a "Christian band"?

I don't think that a "Christian band" necessarily even needs to mention God in any of their songs. If the band members are true followers of Christ, then their beliefs should be evident in their music. However, explicit references to God or religion are not necessary.
For example, Adam Young (the genius behind Owl City) rarely mentions God in his music, but keeps his songs clean and positive and isn't afraid to identify as a Christian. In 2011 he told the Christian Post in an interview, "My prayer is that the music of Owl City serves as a bright light in a very dark place, a ray of hope in this haunted house of a world. I want the Lord Jesus to use my music to do WHATEVER it is He wills."

Is it wrong to listen to nonChristian music?

I think it all depends on whether or not the music you're listening to is going to affect your thoughts and behaviour, tempting you to sin. I listen to lots of music written by nonChristians, but I'm careful to remember that what I listen to can influence me profoundly.

Lots of modern music has references to using illegal drugs, abusing alcohol, violence, lust and sexual immorality, pride, greed, hate, disregarding the consequences of your actions, and excessive concern with outward appearances and popularity. However, music affects each of us differently.
If you can listen to Pumped Up Kicks without having the song change your views on violence, then I'd say it's okay to listen to. If you can listen to Thrift Shop without becoming excessively vulgar, materialistic, and prideful, then I'd say it's okay to listen to it. If you can listen to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs) without getting overly bitter about a breakup you've experienced, then I'd say it's okay to listen to it. But as soon as a song starts inciting you to sin, I would recommend to back away and stop listening. That goes for any song, regardless of the religious beliefs of the person who wrote it.

Homosexuality and the Christian Community

2013-02-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

There is a significant and divisive debate in the Christian community over whether or not homosexuality is sinful. Many people believe that all Christians are "anti-gay," but there is really no consensus on homosexuality among Christians. Some conservative Christians are vehemently opposed to homosexuality and gay rights, believing that homosexuals should "become straight." However, some liberal Christians fully support homosexuality and gay rights, emphasizing God's love and forgiveness. Many Christians find a middle ground, believing that being attracted to the same sex is okay, but that the Bible prohibits sexual behaviour between people of the same gender. This wide range of beliefs is reflected in the differing positions of Christian churches and organizations. The United Church of Canada welcomes homosexuals into its congregations and allows its clergy to perform same-sex marriages. The official catechism of the Roman Catholic church states that homosexuals can be Catholics, but that they are called to chastity. The New York Times reported about a conservative evangelical Baptist church in Ausbury Park, New Jersey that attended the city's annual gay pride celebration, giving out water bottles. The church believes that homosexuality is a sin, but went "to show God's love" to the people there.

The debate over homosexuality in the Christian community largely centers around particular Bible verses relevant to the issue (e.g. Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:9). Scholarly, contemporary translations of the Bible (such as the New International Version) support the view that homosexual behaviour is sinful, though not necessarly same-sex attraction (an important distinction). However, some Christians believe that the Bible has been misunderstood and mistranslated, arguing that the Bible means to condemn other practices such as child abuse and rape instead. This is likely a debate that will divide Christians for many years to come, with implications for the relationship between the Christian and LGBT communities. However, Christians from every standpoint should be able to agree on the importance of treating homosexuals with love and respect, as the Bible commands (Mark 12:31 and Proverbs 10:12). It is also helpful to consider that too much of an emphasis on sexuality can detract from the Bible's main message, that of the forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.

In writing this post, I have done my best to put aside my own beliefs on the subect and remain unbiased, in order to present an impartial summary of the differing standpoints Christians have on homosexuality. You can read my personal standpoint here.

Photo credit

Hiding the Supernatural: The origin of matter

2013-01-06T20:24:00.001-07:00

Photo credit

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy and matter cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change its form. This physical law is one of the foundations of natural science. When there is a undisputed, universal physical law stating that matter cannot be created, how is it possible to explain that matter exists? There are two possibilities – either matter has always been (it is eternal), or at one time matter did not exist and then began to exist.

There are many theories for how our universe (matter) came to be. Most people in the world believe that the universe was created by a supernatural being (creationism). Some believe that the universe has always existed. Others believe that the universe began billions of years ago, completely apart from any supernatural intervention.

The idea that the universe began completely apart from supernatural intervention is not consistent with the first law of thermodynamics. Anything that is of the physical world is subject to the physical laws of the world, and thus subject to the first law of thermodynamics. This law states that matter cannot be created or destroyed. Thus, in order for matter to be created, it must be created by something that is outside of physical laws and outside of the natural world (supernatural).

The idea that the universe has always existed is actually consistent with the first law of thermodynamics. If matter is eternal, then it never was created. It always was.

However, this theory does not sufficiently take into account the fact that for everthing that happens in the natural universe, there is a cause. In order for anything with mass to move, it must be moved by something other than itself. Because it is quite evident that there is motion in the natural world, there must have been something that moved first, enabling (e.g. causing) all other motion in the natural world. If there was not a "first mover," then this natural world could not be in motion, because everything natural that is moving is caused to be in motion by something else. This first mover must be outside of the laws of nature, because it has no natural cause for moving. In other words, this first mover must be supernatural.

The idea that the universe was created by something supernatural is consistent with the first law of thermodynamics, because physical laws only apply to the natural world. If a being is spiritual and supernatural, then it does not belong to the natural world, and it is not restricted by physical laws. The first law of thermodynamics is strong evidence for the theory that the natural universe began from something supernatural (in other words, that the universe was created). I dare say that the first law of thermodynamics effectively proves creationism.

All naturalistic, materialistic explanations of the origin of the universe merely hide the necessity of a supernatural creator, pretending to offer feasible alternatives to the logical, intuitive idea that the universe was created by a supernatural being. However, upon close analysis, there is no escaping from the truth that there is a creator who does not belong to this universe and is not bound by our physical laws.

***

This post was heavily influenced by Thomas Aquinas's proof for the existence of God in his famous book, the Summa Theologica. You can read the book online by following this link. Once you've realized that the book is way to long to read in its entirety, you can read his relatively short proof for the existence of God by following this link.

***

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” – Psalm 14:1

The Place of Religion in Government

2012-10-24T18:35:00.001-06:00

Devon Clunis, Winnipeg's new police chief, recently told a Christian magazine that prayer is a "powerful weapon" that he hopes will lead to positive action and community involvement, and help reduce crime in the city. He also spoke at length about how his faith has helped him personally, and said that no matter what is happening in Winnipeg, God is in control. He told the interviewer,

"This is about the health and the welfare, the well-being of our community. I'm not trying to create converts into any particular faith or religious belief system – that's not what this is about. But because I know this [faith] is such an integral part of so many individuals, why would we not engage that in terms of fighting crime and creating a better city for all our citizens?"

You can watch the interview by clicking here (it is about 15 minutes long).

As is to be expected in today's society, many strict secularists have called Mr. Clunis's comments inappropriate, postulating that religion is a private matter with no relevance in public settings and something that should definitely not be mentioned by any prominent government official. Unfortunately, some have even reached the conclusion that Mr. Clunis is unfit to be Winnipeg's police chief, merely because he talked about his personal faith and suggested that prayer is beneficial to society.

Here is what I think. Canada should have a full separation of religion and state, for three main reasons. Firstly, because religious institutions should not be able to dictate government decisions. Secondly, because the government should not be able to dictate the decisions of religious institutions, nor the spiritual decisions of individuals. Thirdly, because every citizen should be able to contribute to society and a person's religious faith should not determine whether or not he or she can hold a position in government.
That being said, Canada's constitution also guarantees religious freedom and freedom of speech, two basic human rights that are necessary for a country to be free and democratic. Without the freedom to make spiritual decisions for yourself and develop an individual worldview apart from government interference, and without the freedom to express those spiritual beliefs and act according to your own worldview, a nation cannot be a free and democratic country. Because these freedoms are so vital to Canadian society, our government should not proscribe or even discourage its citizens from expressing their religious beliefs (with the exception of hate speech that directly encourages the use of violence against any group or individual, which is incontrovertibly wrong and detrimental to society). Without this freedom to express spiritual beliefs and act upon them, freedom of religion is paralyzed and useless. Even the citizens of the dystopia depicted in George Orwell's novel 1984 could think as they wished. However, Big Brother forbid his citizens to act out on their beliefs or express them openly, killing the usefulness of their free will.
I believe wholeheartedly that these freedoms must correlate directly into government as well. Civil servants of all shapes and sizes must be able to determine their own beliefs, act upon those beliefs, and express those beliefs openly, even while on the job. The principle that government officials must "leave their religion at the door" as they begin their job and refuse to discuss matters pertaining to their core beliefs is not only anti-democratic, dangerous, and in violation of human rights, but also next to impossible. You cannot cut a person's mind in half to completely separate their beliefs pertaining to God and their other beliefs (such as those pertaining to politics, government, other people, and their job). A person's core beliefs will influence their job, whether they believe in Christianity, Islam, atheism, agnosticism, or any other worldview. This is especially evident with Mr. Clunis, who says that his Christian faith is foundational to everything he does.
Furthermore, a democratic government is supposed to represent all of its citizens. For that reason, government departments in Canada try to be racially diverse and include minorities. I see the inclusion of religion as a mere extension of that diversity. Government will never be able to get rid of religion. Our governments should instead embrace religion, realizing that allowing government officials to be religious while on the job is another way of representing their citizens more fully and enabling their officials to serve the public better.

In conclusion, I think government should be religion-inclusive, not religion-free. Devon Clunis's comments were certainly appropriate, and I will be praying with him for the people of Winnipeg.

Magnificent Orthodoxy

2012-10-08T22:40:00.000-06:00

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) is one of Christianity's finest writers, and I would venture to say that he is among the English language's finest writers as well. While I'm at it, I might as well state also that his book Orthodoxy is one of Christianity's finest books, although at this point I should offer my sincere apologies for being so repetitive. Chesterton thought quite outside the box, drawing unexpected connections between things and using delightful metaphors. He was quite adept at finding mots justes, as well as "phrases justes" and "paragraphe justes." His writing always seems to have an undercurrent of irony and subtle humour, which becomes clear and obvious in the occasional sentence, and makes his works even more enjoyable.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of literature – bookworms, wordsmiths, and wannabe writers alike – as well as to those interested in religion, philosophy, Christianity, and Christian apologetics. Some parts can be difficult to understand, but if you can decipher my incoherent ramblings (and more importantly, appreciate my self-deprecating humour), I trust you have the intelligence to comprehend Chesterton's literary masterpiece.
Here are some of my favourite quotes from Orthodoxy:

Chapter 1:

I know nothing so contemptible as a mere paradox; a mere ingenious defence of the indefensible.

Chapter 2:

Thoroughly worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true.

Poetry is sane because it floats easily in an infinite sea; reason seeks to cross the infinite sea, and so make it finite. The result is mental exhaustion, like the physical exhaustion of Mr. Holbein. To except everything is an exercise, to understand everything a strain. The poet only desires exaltation and expansion, a world to stretch himself in. The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens. It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head. And it is his head that splits.

Mysticism keeps men sane.

Chapter 3:

The phrases of the street are not only forcible but subtle: for a figure of speech can often get into a crack too small for a definition.

Humility was largely meant as a restraint upon the arrogance and infinity of the appetite of man. He was always outstripping his mercies with his own newly invented needs... But what we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place. Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction; where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth; this has been exactly reversed.

That peril is that the human intellect is free to destroy itself. Just as one generation could prevent the very existence of the next generation, by all entering a monastery or jumping into the sea, so one set of thinkers can in some degree prevent further thinking by teaching the next generation that there is no validity in any human thought. It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all. If you are merely a skeptic, you must sooner or later ask yourself the question, "Why should anything go right; even observation and deduction? Why should not good logic be as misleading as bad logic? They are both movements in the brain of a bewildered ape." The young sceptic says, "I have a right to think for myself." But the old sceptic, the complete sceptic, says, "I have no right to think for myself. I have no right to think at all."

For we can hear skepticism crashing through the old ring of authorities, and at the same moment we can see reason swaying upon her throne. In so far as religion is gone, reason is going. For they are both of the same primary and authoritative kind. They are both methods of proof which cannot themselves be proved. And in the act of destroying the idea of Divine authority we have largely destroyed the idea of that human authority by which we do a long-division sum. With a long and sustained tug we have attempted to pull the mitre off pontifical man; and his head has come off with it.

We have no more questions to ask. We have looked for questions in the darkest corners and on the wildest peaks. We have found all the questions that can be found. It is time we gave up looking for questions and began looking for answers.

Thinking in isolation and with pride ends in being an idiot. Every man who will not have the softening of the heart must at last have the softening of the brain.

Madness may be defined as using mental activity so as to reach mental helplessness.

Chapter 4:

There is the great lesson of "Beauty and the Beast"; that a thing must be loved before it is loveable.

Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Could I not be grateful to Santa Claus when he put in my stockings the gift of two miraculous legs? We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?

Strike a glass, and it will not endure an instant; simply do not strike it, and it will endure a thousand years. Such, it seemed, was the joy of man, either in elfland or on earth; the happiness depended on not doing something which you could at any moment do, and which, very often, it was not obvious why you should not do.

Chapter 5:

For decoration is not given to hide horrible things: but the decorate things already adorable… Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her.

Love is not blind; that is the last thing that it is. Love is bound; and the more it is bound, the less it is blind.

An imbecile habit has arisen in modern controversy of saying that such and such a creed can be held in one age but cannot be held in another. Some dogma, we are told, was credible in the twelfth century, but is not credible in the twentieth. You might as well say that a certain philosophy can be believed on Mondays, but cannot be believed on Tuesdays.

Chapter 7:

A strict rule is not only necessary for ruling; it is also necessary for rebelling. This fixed and familiar ideal is necessary to any sort of revolution.

As long as the vision of Heaven is always changing, the vision of earth will be exactly the same. No ideal will remain long enough to be realized, or even partly realized. The modern young man will never change his environment; for he will always change his mind.

What on earth is the current morality, except in its literal sense – the morality that is always running away?

The main point of Christianity was this: that Nature is not our mother: Nature is our sister. We can be proud of her beauty, since we have the same father; but she has no authority over us; we have to admire, but not to imitate.

Man must have just enough faith in himself to have adventures, and just enough doubt of himself to enjoy them.

I know that the most modern manufacture has been really occupied in trying to produce an abnormally large needle. I know that the most recent biologists have been chiefly anxious to discover a very small camel.
(A reference to Matthew 19:16-26)

Chapter 8:

Insisting that God is inside man, man is always inside himself. By insisting that God transcends man, man has transcended himself.

Men who begin to fight the Church for the sake of freedom and humanity end by flinging away freedom and humanity if only they may fight the Church.

Chapter 9:

Christianity is the only frame which has preserved the pleasure of Paganism. We might fancy some children playing on the flat grassy top of some tall island in the sea. So long as there was a wall round the cliff's edge they could fling themselves into every frantic game and make the place the noisiest of nurseries. But the walls were knocked down, leaving the naked peril of the precipice. They did not fall over; but when their friends returned to them they were all huddled in terror in the centre of the island; and their song had ceased.

Christianity is a super-human paradox whereby two opposite passions may blaze beside each other.

If anyone says that faith arose in ignorance and savagery, the answer is simple: it didn't. It arose in the Mediterranean civilization in the full summer of the Roman Empire.

How can we say that the Church wishes to bring us back into the Dark Ages? The Church was the only thing that ever brought us out of them.

A false ghost disproves the reality of ghosts exactly as much as a forged banknote disproves the existence of the Bank of England – if anything, it proves its existence.

This or that rite or doctrine may look as ugly and extraordinary as a rake; but I have found by experience that such things end somehow in grass and flowers. A clergyman may be apparently as useless as a cat, but he is also as fascinating, for there must be some strange reason for his existence.

This, therefore, is, in conclusion, my reason for accepting the religion, and not merely the scattered and secular truths out of the religion. I do it because the thing has not merely told this truth or that truth, but has revealed itself as a truth-telling thing. All other philosophies say the things that plainly seem to be true: only this philosophy has again and again said the thing that does not seem to be true, but is true.

The outer ring of Christianity is a rigid guard of ethical abnegations and professional priests; but inside that inhuman guard you will find the old human life dancing like children, and drinking wine like men; for Christianity is the only frame for pagan freedom. But in the modern philosophy the case is opposite; it is its outer ring that is obviously artistic and emancipated; its despair is within. And its despair is this, that is does not really believe that there is any meaning in the universe; therefore it cannot hope to find any romance; its romances will have no plots.

Melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should be the permanent pulsation of the soul.

Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.

There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when he walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was his mirth.
(The last sentence in the book, making for a mysterious and dramatic ending)

Olympic Opening Ceremonies - Ten Thoughts

2012-07-28T23:09:00.001-06:00

1. I liked the simple start to the ceremonies – a child singing Jerusalem, one of Britian's beautiful traditional hymns. (Above is a more dramatic rendition of the song, conducted by Mark Elder with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Singers, and BBC Symphony Chorus)

2. The flying Olympic rings were really cool, first glowing like molten medal, then exploding and showering down sparks.

3. James Bond was just the man to safely take the Queen from Buckingham Palace to the stadium! hahaha

4. Apparently there is a second verse to God Save the Queen... I'd never heard it before.

5. I also didn't know that Mr. Bean was such a talented musician! Mr. Atkinson's performance was definitely one of my favourite parts of the ceremony :)

6. The tiny country of Luxembourg is usually not too noticable at the Olympics. However, surely I couldn't have been the only one to notice how good looking their flag bearer is this year? Her name is Marie Muller, and she is competing in the sport of Judo.

7. Poland's flag is white with a red stripe on the bottom, Monaco's flag is white with a red stripe on the top, and Indonesia's flag... well, no one's explained to me yet how Indonesia's flag is any different from Monaco's. Makes me kind of glad that Canada has that unique maple leaf in the middle.

8. The International Olympic Committee refused to acknowledge the 40th anniversary of the massacre at the Munich Olympics, despite pressure from many world leaders (including John Baird, Hillary Clinton, and even Obama). I find that completely disgraceful.

9. The cauldron was very beautiful! I loved how they let six young athletes nominated by outstanding Olympians to light the cauldron. Equally cool was how the individual copper petals were lit before folding up into one giant flame. I see it as symbolic of diversity and unity, as each country brought in one of the petals during the Parade of Nations.

10. Paul McCartney performed very well, and I loved his enthusiasm! I still have that song stuck in my head. Naaa na na na na na naaaaa, na na na naaaaa hey Jude!

***

Photo Credits:

1. http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/london-2012/2717930-olympics-london-2012-opening-ceremony-charts-british-history

2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2180064/London-2012-Olympic-Opening-Ceremony--pictures-action.html

5. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Games+rituals+wasn/7003414/story.html

6. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180052/Mr-Bean-Olympic-Opening-Rowan-Atkinson-brings-house-leads-orchestra-hilarious-rendition.html

7. http://www.mariemuller.info/Marie_Muller/Fotos/Seiten/Fotoshooting.html

8. http://twistedsifter.sifter.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/olympic-cauldron-opening-ceremony-london-2012-cover-800x500.jpg

10. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19024254

11. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33747_162-57481790/2012-olympics-paul-mccartney-closes-londons-opening-ceremony/

Survival

2012-07-02T20:10:00.000-06:00

You have been selected to participate in a popular TV gameshow called... the Hunger Games. You are one of 24 contestants, and only one of you can come out alive. In order to survive, you will have to kill at least one other person (probably more). Would you participate, knowing that you will need to kill others in order to live? Or would you kill yourself before the Games started?

I originally thought that all the killings inside the Hunger Games arena would be in self-defence. However, is it really self-defence if you are going into the arena knowing that you will have to kill people? Isn't that actually closer to premeditated murder?

⬇ Spoiler Alert! ⬇

In The Hunger Games, the hero and heroine (Katniss and Peeta) decide to kill to survive. However, by the end of the story, when they are the last two standing, they can't bring themselves to kill the other. So they decide to attempt suicide together.

The Hunger Games portrays many instances of Katniss and Peeta putting themselves at risk to help others, which is admirable. However, their selfless acts are (for the most part) limited for those they know and love – on the other hand, they are willing to kill people they don't know in order to ensure their survival. This may be normal in our society, but seems contrary to the Bible's command to put others first (Philippians 2:3-11 and 1 Corinthians 10:24).

The question remains... What would you do?

Motion 312

2012-05-05T12:18:00.000-06:00

Member of Parliament Stephen Woodworth recently introduced Motion 312 to the Canadian House of Commons, calling for a Parliamentary committee to "review the declaration in Subsection 223(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada which states that a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth." On April 26th the motion came up for debate, and unfortunately many Members of Parliament argued vigorously against it (click here to watch the beginning of the debate).

I believe that this motion is of the utmost importance. We must ensure that all human beings in Canada receive human rights protections, and this can only happen if every human being in Canada is considered such under our law! I couldn't agree more with Stephen Woodworth when he recently tweeted, "I'm pretty sure a child is as much a human being 5 minutes before birth as 5 minutes after birth." Yet Canadian law still states that a child is not a human being until it is born, and it is completely legal to kill a child at any time before birth!

Many Canadians think that humanity begins before birth, and this view seems to be supported by current scientific evidence (for example, unborn children have their own, unique DNA and their own, separate circulation systems). It is Parliament's duty to examine this important issue and reach a scientifically and morally valid conclusion! All Motion 312 calls for is a Parliamentary committee to address this urgent matter. If Canada's law regarding the beginning of humanity is correct, it will hold up to scrutiny. If it is incorrect, then it is Parliament's duty to change it.

Abortion in Canada:

➜ Abortion is legal at any stage in pregnancy, right up to the moment before birth

➜ It is legal to get an abortion for any reason

➜ Almost every abortion in Canada is payed for by taxpayers

➜ Teenagers do not need parental consent to have an abortion (they do not even have to inform their parents)

➜ Many Canadians do not know that Canada has no laws restricting abortion

➤ Source: Abortion Statistics Show Reality of a Land Without Restrictions – National Post

In the first hour of debate over Motion 312 in Parliament, Stephen Woodworth stated, "If you care about the truth, you will courageously follow the facts wherever they lead. Canadians expect Parliamentarians to embody that courage, that strength, that principled quest for the truth." It is time for the Canadian government to stop stifling debate and take a look at this issue. Please contact your Member of Parliament and ask him or to stand up for the truth by supporting Motion 312!

Alberta Election 2012: Summary

2012-04-25T19:55:00.000-06:00

Alison Redford, Alberta's first elected female Premier!

Danielle Smith, Alberta's new opposition leader!

On Monday Albertans made their final decisions on who to vote for, and the Progressive Conservatives came out on top, winning the party's 12th majority government in a row! In case you haven't already heard the results, the PCs won 61 seats, the Wildrose 17, the Liberals 5, and the NDP 4.

Wildrose supporters are naturally disappointed that their party did not get elected into government, and many are angry at the results. I saw some fairly undignified comments on facebook last night (the funniest and most ridiculous one being "ugh redford isn't fit to run a hotdog stand"). Thankfully, Wildrose leader Danielle Smith remained very positive in her post-election speech. As a Wildrose supporter, I too am taking a positive view of this election – it is too bad that the PCs were not ousted from government, but I consider this election a victory for the Wildrose nonetheless. The party will get a chance to gain some experience and the trust of Albertans before (hopefully) coming into office in the next election (in 2016).

I am no fan of the Progressive Conservative party; however, Premier Redford is an experienced and relatively competent leader. Because of this, I am proud to have her as my province's first elected female premier (by the way, the CBC has a good profiles on all the party leaders in their Alberta Votes 2012 feature). Many of the PC's votes were probably from Liberal and NDP supporters who decided to vote for the PC party in order to keep the Wildrose party out of power. Despite this "strategic voting", four former cabinet ministers lost their seats in the election, showing that although the party was elected, there are a large number of Albertans who are discontent with the PCs.

The Alberta Liberal Party declined in popularity this election, winning five seats (down from 8 before the election). The party's leader, Raj Sherman, was elected as a Progressive Conservative in 2008 but was soon kicked out of caucus for publicly criticizing the PC's health care policy. Fortunately for Mr. Sherman, many of his constituents decided to vote for him again, and he was re-elected (although only by 118 votes).

The Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) ran a successful campaign and were rewarded with four seats (up from a mere two seats before the election). Their leader Brian Mason was among those elected. From his performance at the leaders debate, Mr. Mason seems like a strong leader and I believe he will be a good voice to have in the Legislature.

The new Alberta Party (yes, they don't have the most original name) failed to get a seat in the Legislature, but their leader Glenn Taylor is trying to stay positive, telling the press, "I feel we accomplished what we set out to. Our goal was to introduce ourselves to Albertans, and from that perspective, it was a smashing success."

Voter turnout was a marginally successful 57%, up from the measly 41% of voters who bothered to cast a ballot in the last election.

I was happy to hear that some of my favourite MLAs were re-elected, specifically Rob Anderson (a Wildrose MLA who gained my support after standing up for diversity in education choices in a recent Education Act debate) and Doug Griffiths (my favourite candidate in the PC leadership election last year).

This election is a step in the right direction, but not as big a step as many Albertans had hoped for. I will conclude with a quote from Danielle Smith, regarding the election results: “Am I surprised? Yeah. Am I disappointed? Yeah. Am I discouraged? Not a chance.”

Alberta Election 2012

2012-04-07T22:31:00.002-06:00

Alberta is going to the polls on Monday, April 23, and there are five major parties contending for seats in the Legislature:

The Progressive Conservatives have been in power since 1971, winning majority governments in the last 11 provincial elections! The leader of the PC Party (and our current Premier) is Alison Redford, who was elected by the party in October of last year.

The Liberal Party is the official opposition, holding 8 seats going into this election. Albertans in general are famous for their vehement anti-Liberal sentiments, and the Alberta Liberals have not been in power since 1921! The leader of this unfortunate party is Raj Sherman.

The Wildrose Party hasn't been around for long (its origins go back to 2007), but it has already gained lots of support from Albertans fed up with the PC Party's long reign. According to a recent poll the Wildrose is likely to win a majority government in the upcoming election! Their leader is Danielle Smith.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) has 2 seats in the Legislature and is hoping to gain more this election. On their website they say, "We believe that it’s time that Alberta’s prosperity, drawn from our shared natural resource wealth, worked for all Albertans, not just a select few." Their leader is Brian Mason.

The Alberta Party describes themselves on their website as "a new political movement dedicated to transforming government through citizen engagement." According to polls, they are unlikely to get a seat in the upcoming election. Their leader is Glenn Taylor.

***

Note: When I wrote this post, I decided to endorse the Wildrose Party for the reasons listed below. However, I have since resolved to no longer endorse any political party on this blog.

1. They've pledged to take numerous steps to increase democracy and accountability in provincial politics.

2. They acknowledge that there are good alternatives to public schools (e.g. Catholic schools, private schools, and homeschooling) and have decided "to foster a culture of educational choice, innovation and competition."

3. The party has decided to support "private health care for certain procedures as a way to alleviate long waiting times" (as reported by the Globe and Mail). They also say they will remain dedicated to "fixing" the the public health care system.

4. They want to balance the budget. I quote from their website: "Albertans work hard, pay their taxes, and live within their means – and they expect their government to do the same." I just hope they don't make too many cuts (and I'm not convinced that their idea to send cheques back to Albertans in surplus years is a good idea).

5. They support "conscious rights", which allows "public servants to opt-out of providing services they consider morally objectionable. This could allow a marriage counsellor to refuse to wed same-sex couples or a doctor to refuse to prescribe birth-control" (as reported by the National Post).

6. The Wildrose Party is the only party with enough support to dethrone the PC Party, which has dominated provincial politics for over 40 years.

LRA Violence and Joseph Kony

2012-03-05T22:15:00.008-07:00

Did you know that over 30,000 children have been abducted by Joseph Kony, the leader of the "Lord's Resistance Army" in Africa?

These children are being brainwashed and forced to become soldiers or sex slaves. Kony has been on the run for years, as he is considered one of the world's worst war criminals. Now is the time to arrest him and put an end to this wickedness.

Kony 2012 Video

Kony 2012: Part 2

LRA Crisis Tracker

Invisible Children - Response to Critics

Please spread the word!

LOVE

2012-02-14T12:05:00.002-07:00

– 1 John 4:8

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:36-40 (Jesus speaking)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35 (Jesus speaking)

As these Bible verses show, following Jesus is all about love. But hold on a second... what is love? Is it just a fuzzy feeling we get when we're around the person we like? Let's find out what the Bible says...

First, take a look at 1 Corinthians 13, well known as "The Love Chapter." Here is a lot of information about what love is. Right off the bat, the first three verses tell us that love is extremely important, and without love, everything we do is meaningless. Then the next couple verses say:

1. Love is patient.

2. Love is kind.

3. Love does not envy.

4. Love does not boast.

5. Love is not proud.

6. Love does not dishonor others.

7. Love is not self-seeking.

8. Love is not easily angered.

9. Love keeps no record of wrongs.

10. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

11. Love always protects.

12. Love always trusts.

13. Love always hopes.

14. Love always perseveres.

Wow, that's quite the list, eh? But there's a pattern here – I think it's clear that love is about putting others first.

Second, visit John 13:1-17. In this passage, Jesus washes His disciples' feet because of His deep love for them. Here Jesus demonstrates true, perfect love. Jesus was God! Yet He humbled himself, taking the job of the lowest servant. And He told us to do the same. In this passage, Jesus showed us that the opposite of love is selfishness. Without humbling ourselves and putting others first, we can't love properly. Love is about action, not mere feelings or rhetoric (1 John 3:18). Without acting out our love to the people around us, what's the point?

Third, read Galatians 5:19-23. Here we learn that true, pure love needs to follow God's plan. Otherwise, it's just a cheap imitation. Stuff like sexual immorality, jealousy and quarrelling have nothing to do with love. You can see a lot of this in the world today: instead of true, pure love, we find stuff that corrupts and perverts love, or simply goes against it altogether.
For example, some people think they can have sex with as many people as they want, or with people of the same gender, or with young children. Others think it's okay to kill their unborn baby if he or she poses an inconvenience to them. Many people don't see any problem with treating someone as a mere sexual object, by lusting after friends and viewing pornography. In short, we find selfishness and hedonism – the complete opposites of love.
I'm still trying to untangle the love and lust in my life. I'm still trying to fully understand what love means. I hope you'll join me in this quest for a deeper understanding of pure, true love. But in the meantime...

Follow God. Love. Change the world.

God Is Love Photo Source

Where is the Love?

2012-02-13T21:20:00.005-07:00

People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach?

And would you turn the other cheek?

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love?

Hate abounds everywhere. War rages across the globe, pitting man against man in a whirlwind of death and destruction. Racism beats down people just because they're "different". Children are abused by adults and bullied by their peers. Half of marriages in the US and Canada now end in divorce.

In short, the world needs more of this thing we call love. Every single person I know would agree with that. But where can we find it? Visit my blog tomorrow to find out!

New Toblerone Commercial!

2012-02-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

A great commercial for Toblerone that I thought I'd share :)

This is not my video and I am not endorsed by Toblerone.

The Worst (Preventable) Things Going on in the World Right NOW

2012-01-14T14:46:00.002-07:00

Photo source

War –

Mexico's drug war: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16337488

Pakistan-India Kashmir war: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10537286 and http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html

LRA conflict in Uganda:
http://www.invisiblechildren.com/history-of-the-war

etc.

Child soldiers –
http://www.un.org/children/conflict/english/issues.html

Child abuse –
http://www.zebracentre.ca/facing-the-facts/

Extreme poverty and malnutrition –
http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats

Often reinforced by racism – http://www.gfa.org/dalit/about-the-dalits/

Abortion –
http://www.campaignlifecoalition.com/index.php?p=Abortion
(a genocide of the unborn)

*****

This short list is just a start... How can we just sit back and go on with our everyday lives, knowing that every day people are going through terrible things like these and dying unecessarly, when we could help them? I know I can't just sit back... because God has broken my heart for the broken in this world. I used to have lots of dreams and goals for my life – to get married to a beautiful girl, get a good writing job, become famous (most likely through my writing), buy a nice, cozy little house in some place like Hawaii, install a hot-tub, get a beagle... in short, to get a whole bunch of stuff for ME. It was all about ME, MYSELF, and I.
Then just last year, God told me it isn't all about me. I am not the center of the universe. He told me to get rid of all my dreams and just surrender to Him. Of course, I didn't want to. But eventually God convinced me it was the best way to live my life to the fullest.
So here I am... I know that some day I'll change the world. I hope that some day I'll be called to help people who are caught in the middle of war, to free child soldiers, to prevent child abuse and comfort its victims, to assist those who are starving in extreme poverty, to help end racism, and to put a stop to the genocide of the unborn.
But for now, I'll just shine for Christ in my small 17-year-old life, help others when I can, and do my best to be a friend to those around me in the small town of Vegreville, Alberta.

The Meaning of Christmas

2011-12-22T14:28:00.001-07:00

I love beauty and truth. Those are two things I'm always searching for. That's also why I love Christmas so much – the story of how Jesus Christ came to earth is one of the world's most beautiful stories. What makes it even more beautiful is the fact that I can be sure it is completely true, because it was recorded in the Bible, the infallible Word of God. Here are the Bible passages that tell about the first Christmas, over two thousand years ago...

The birth of Jesus is foretold: Luke 1:26-38

Jesus is born: Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20

The wise men visit Jesus: Matthew 2:1-12

The Kingdom of Utopialand

2011-12-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

Editor: The Kingdom of Utopialand is currently at war with the Republic of Dystopialand. After a rout of the Royal Utopialandian army, the Kingdom is being overrun by Dystopialandian troops. The foreign army is quickly pressing toward Poohbaville, the capital of Utopialand, where His Excellency the Sir Grand Poohba, Supreme Commander of the Utopialandian Armed Forces and Most High King of Utopialand is in conference with his Ministers and Advisors in his royal palace.

  “Hey, slave boy, bring me some more donuts! And make it quick!” declares His Excellency. “This meeting is now officially and royally declared open.”
  “Your Excellency the Sir Grand Poohba, Supreme Commander of the Utopialandian Armed Forces and Most High King of Utopialand, here are your donuts,” says the slave, bowing.
  “Your Excellency the Sir Grand Poohba, Supreme Commander of the Utopialandian Armed Forces and Most High King of Utopialand, Dystopialandian troops are marching toward Poohbaville this very minute. Their ETA is 1400 hours tomorrow. I propose we blow them all up with our nuclear warheads. This would stop their advance and have the beneficial effect of completely destroying their army, allowing us to invade Dystopialand unopposed!” yells the Right Honourable Sir Minister of Military Affairs and Blowing-Things-Up Affairs.
  “Hmm… yes, that does make sense,” says His Excellency, his mouth full of donuts.
  “Your Excellency the Sir Grand Poohba, Supreme Commander of the Utopialandian Armed Forces and Most High King of Utopialand, what the Right Honourable Sir Minister of Military Affairs and Blowing-Things-Up Affairs has said is completely ridiculous. We must keep our heads in this situation and act in a civilized manner. I propose that we send a delegation of accomplished diplomats to meet the enemy before it arrives,” says the Right Honourable Sir Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy.
  “Hmm… yes, that does make sense,” says His Excellency, his mouth full of donuts.
  “Your Excellency the Sir Grand Poohba etc., sending a delegation of paper pushers to meet an enemy army is cowardly, foolish, utterly, utterly… foolhardy!” stammers the Minister of Military Affairs and Blowing-Things-Up Affairs. “The plan presented by the Right Honourable Sir Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy makes absolutely no military sense!”
  “Hmm… true, true. Well said, Right Honourable Sir Minister of Military Affairs and Blowing-Things-Up Affairs,” says His Excellency in between bites of a triple chocolate donut.
  “Your Excellency the Sir Grand Poohba etc., deploying nuclear weapons against armies on our own soil would be disastrous. Many of our own tax-paying citizens would die, and our land would be rendered uninhabitable due to nuclear contamination. In short, your Kingdom would be destroyed. My plan is the only chance we have to save Utopialand,” says the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy.
  “Hmm… I think… I think these are good donuts!” says His Excellency. “Send my compliments to the Royal Chef at once, slave boy.”
  “Your Excellency! This is a matter of great importance! We require your decision at once!” exclaims the Right Honourable Sir Chief Advisor to the King.
  “Oh, right. Well, uh… we certainly don’t want my Kingdom to be destroyed, now, do we?” says His Excellency. “Sir Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy, put your plan into effect immediately.”
  “Marvelous! Marvelous, your Excellency! I will form a committee to pick the diplomats for the delegation at once!” replies the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy.
  “A committee? A committee?” yells the Minister of Military Affairs and Blowing-Things-Up Affairs. “We don’t need a committee! We need military action! Your Excellency, I propose—“
  “Now, now, Minister of Military Affairs and Blowing-Things-Up Affairs, you heard my decision,” says His Excellency. “We need to keep a civilized head and all that. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy will handle the situation now. You know, I find this all dreadfully boring—I hereby officially and royally declare this meeting adjourned. Say, why don’t you blow up another garden fountain on the palace grounds, like you did last week? My, that was fun!”
  “Your Excellency, that reminds me. For some reason, both the Royal Gardener and the Royal Custodian of the Palace handed me their resignations yesterday…” says the Chief Advisor to the King.
  “Oh, no matter. Hire new ones at once, Right Honourable Sir Chief Advisor,” says His Excellency. “Come along, Minister of Military Affairs and Blowing-Things-Up Affairs. Tell me, what explosives should we use this time?”

  The next morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy opens the first meeting of the Royal Emergency Utopialand Diplomatic Defense Committee, a committee put together to select the diplomats to meet the Dystopialandian army.
  “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the first meeting of the Royal Emergency Utopialand Diplomatic Defense Committee (REUDDC for short). I have the privelege of chairing this committee. Dystopialand’s armies are rapidly pushing toward Poohbaville with minimal military resistance, as our military has, er… fallen apart. Let this ever be a reminder of the futility and undependability of military strategy, so that we may fully know that respectable diplomacy is the only—” The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy is interrupted by a loud explosion from outside the palace which shakes the room violently.
  “Slave boy! Please tell His Excellency and the Minister of Blowing-Things-Up to keep it down. Tell them to use lower power explosives or something—we’re trying to have a meeting here!” says the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy.
  Another explosion rocks the room.
  “This is really too much! These explosions are getting out of hand—” the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy is interrupted again, this time by the meeting room door being thrown open and a dozen soldiers in Dystopialandian uniforms rushing in.
  “Everyone put your hands up! I am Colonel Hitlerstein of the Dystopialandian army, and I am taking charge of this palace!” yells a burly soldier with a heavy foreign accent, gun in hand.
  “Who, what, when, where, why, how?” stammers the former Minister of Foregin Affairs and Respectable Diplomacy.
  “That was an excellent demonstration of language proficency—the five W’s and one H. But I am not interested in you—where is the King?” yells the Colonel.
  “I don’t know! I don’t know! You guys weren’t supposed to arrive for another four hours!” replies the former Minister.
  “Hey, you! What are you doing?” the Colonel yells at me.
  “I’m just recording the minutes of the meeting!” I reply.
  “Give me that paper!” he says as he

Editor: The manuscript ends here.

Thoughts on the Occupy Protests

2011-12-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

These men have jobs on Wall Street and said they couldn't get to work because of the protests:

The massive Occupy Wall Street protests have resulted in hundreds of arrests and hundreds of headlines. It has also prompted a very similar Canadian anti-corporation, anti-government movement. However, I don't think these disordered protests will be able to accomplish anything concrete. You want to make a difference in how business and government works? Be involved in politics, NPOs, and lobbying instead of marching around decrying every person more powerful than you.

Additionally, do these types of protests really belong in Canada? Our economy is much stronger and our distribution of wealth is not nearly as lopsided as in the United States. With a more even distribution of wealth, less people without jobs, less people below the poverty line, a more stable economy, and a government that does more to help the poor, are Occupy Wall Street protests really relevant in our country?

Or is this a global movement that's more about supporting people in poorer countries? If so, I would be a lot more sympathetic. Visiting the movements' websites, I found many anti-corporation and anti-government slogans but no real answers. There was only one specific, meaningful thing they seemed united around – that corporate money and corporate lobbyists have too much of an influence on government. That, I actually agree with.
I think there are signs that our society may be slowly turning into a plutocracy (the US may already be an effective plutocracy). However, with the problems in the movement that I mentioned above, I don't feel ready to throw my support behind the Occupy movement.

Video: Harper on Occupy Wall Street

Gr8 Words

2011-11-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

I've decided to base my life on the Bible (yes, that does mean you have the right to correct me if I say anything contrary to it!). Here are some of my favourite Bible verses. I believe they are particularly relevant to how one should live as a disciple of Christ. This first two verses remind me that everything I do should be done in love and for the glory of God. That's hard. The third verse reminds me that I need to fully surrender to God's plan for my life. That's hard. The fourth eliminates the excuse "I'm just a youth, so I can wait until I'm older to follow God" and lists five things I need to work on continually. That's also hard. The last verse reminds me that it may be hard, but through God I can do it all.

Do everything in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. – Luke 14:33

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

These verses are all from the New International Version except for the last one, which is from the New American Standard Bible.

One year of blogging!!!

2011-11-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

♬♪♪♩♫

Happy birthday to my blog,

Happy birthday dear Sk8er Boy Blog...

Happy birthday to you!

♩♬♪♫♩♪

What, am I the only person who sings to my blog? :D On November 14, 2010 I published my first blog post. At that time, I had World War II articles as well, but I soon transferred them to The World War II Blog. Now, after more than 60 blog posts and over 4000 pageviews (not including my own thousand or so pageviews, lol), I'm still blogging about some of my favourite subjects, including Canadian federal politics and Christianity. I'm also starting to blog about music too :)

In honour of a successful year of blogging, I have written a special post about the Bible, which is the best book ever written and the guide for my life! :D

Favourite Albums

2011-11-13T08:14:00.002-07:00

Portable Sounds by TobyMac

TobyMac is my favourite artist, and this is my favourite album! TobyMac plays an amazing mix of rock & roll, hip-hop, rap, and pop. This album, released in 2007 and certified gold the next year, has more of a pop sound to it, with great hits like Made to Love (which reached #1 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart) and I'm For You. There are also some rockier songs in it, like Ignition, Boomin', and Suddenly. The funky hip hop songs No Ordinary Love and Feelin' So Fly are also among my favourites, as are the slower, more reflective songs All In and Lose My Soul. The whole album has outstanding musicianship and production. It reached the #10 position on the Billboard 200 album chart and #1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart.

The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti and Spearhead

Michael Franti has been around for a long time, recording since the 80s. However, his most recent album, released in 2010, is definitely his best album. The Sound of Sunshine is a superb blend of lighthearted reggae, hip hop, and rock, and thankfully lacks the conspicuous and controversial political messages of some of his past albums. The best song on the album is... The Sound of Sunshine! The title song has such a cheerful, catchy sound to it, one can't help but like it. The exceptional songs Hey Hey Hey and Anytime You Need Me have a similar sound. The Thing That Helps Me Get Through is more lively and energetic, despite its awkwardly long name. This album peaked at #17 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Comatose by Skillet

Skillet is a Christian metal band well known for its success in symphonic rock, utilizing the piano, violin, and chello in recordings and live performances. Their album Comatose is a quite dramatic album, with amazing songs like Comatose and Rebirthing which feature classical instruments quite prominently. Falling Inside the Black, The Last Night, Better Than Drugs, and Whispers in the Dark are four more outstanding songs. Comatose was released in 2006 and became the band's first certified gold album.

Out of the Woods by David Wilcox

Great guitar playing transcends time. This album, the debut album of Canadian David Wilcox (not to be confused with the American folk artist with the same name), was released in 1977 and became certified gold after a re-release five years later. To be honest, my dad bought this album off of iTunes, and I initially wasn't too interested in listening to my dad's music from the 70s... but I quickly realized how much talent this man has. The lively, fast-paced tracks Hypnotizin' Boogie and Hot Hot Papa are irresistible. Groovy songs like Bump Up Ahead, Bad Apple, and A Little Chunk of You had me singing along with his crazy lyrics like the 70s are making a comeback. ^_^ This album is jam-packed with dynamic guitar playing, but Wilcox's singing is... kind of quirky.

NewWorldSon (self-titled album)

The rising Canadian Christian band NewWorldSon plays a unique blend of gospel, reggae, and soul music. This is their newest album, released last year. It features the hit There is a Way (which reached #2 on Billboard's Christian Songs chart), the catchy song In Your Arms, and the vibrant masterpieces You Set the Rhythm and Do You Believe in Love?. Their Jamaican Praise Medley is also fun and unique. Overall, this album has an old-time gospel sound to it, while achieving a fresh and alive feeling.

Tonight by TobyMac

This is my favourite artist's latest album, released in 2010. It has a modern hip-hop sound, and features many exceptional songs. City On Our Knees and Get Back Up both topped the Billboard Christian songs chart and are now among TobyMac's most successful songs. Other favourites of mine are Tonight (featuring John Cooper from Skillet!), Funky Jesus Music, Hold On, and Hey Devil. This album delivers thumping bass and sick hooks, with some of TobyMac's famous rap mixed in!

Honourable Mentions:

♩ Diverse City by TobyMac

♪ Call Me Irresponsible by Michael Buble

♫ Awake by Skillet

♬ Born Again by the Newsboys

♩ Outta Space Love by Group 1 Crew

♫ Young Love by Mat Kearney

Note: These are my favourite studio albums. I have not included any compilation albums, live albums or soundtracks.

2011-11-01T14:57:00.000-06:00

Royal Proclamation

His Majesty King Charles William James Philip Toblerone the Eighth, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, LG, CI, DGStJ, PC, etc., hereby brings forth this day a royal proclamation of utmost momentousness regarding the exceptional significance of music:

Since creation, music has been a central part of society. First allow me to show you the universality of music. As the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes states, there is a time for everything. And there is a song for everything as well. While many songs have been composed for celebration and joyfulness, many songs have also been written for sad times and mourning. Contrast "Hurt" performed by Johnny Cash, and "The Happy Song" sung by Delirious. The former is mournful and sober, the latter sunny and energetic. One may see this variety even in early literature. Take for example the book of Psalms, which contains many songs both joyous and unhappy.
Music applies to both work and leisure. The famous song "Whistle While You Work" obviously concerns the former, while dance music concerns the latter. Music is also composed for special occasions and holidays. “Happy Birthday”, “Auld Lang Sang”, and the entire genre of Christmas music are all for special occasions and holidays.
Wherever one goes, one cannot escape music. It is found in every culture, in every time period, in every place humanity has lived. Astronauts have even played the keyboard, guitar, saxophone, and didgeridoo while floating weightlessly in outer space! Because music is popular anywhere, at any time, for anyone, it has established itself quite firmly as a central part of human society. From North America to Japan and from Greenland to Australia, music continues to be one of the most important elements of culture.
In modern western society, music accompanies many things. People listen to iPods while exercising and the radio while travelling. Movies, TV shows and commercials, video games, sports, theatrical performances, religious worship, and many other everyday activities all utilize music.
Music has also become big business. Albums, tickets for concerts and musicals, downloadable music online, instruments, sheet music, and music playing devices all sell for billions of dollars each year. Professional musicians earn fame and fortune. The enormous electronics company Apple Inc. has earned a large amount of their income from the 16 billion songs downloaded off of their iTunes store and the 300 million iPods they have sold.
Why is music so popular? Because of its spiritual, mental, and emotional power. If you have ever put on a good song and just let your spirit sing along, you should know what I mean. Arts such as motivational speaking, drama, and music are unique in the their ability to significantly impact people spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I believe that because music is the most universal of these arts, it is also the most effective and beneficial.
That is the reason why music is often used in religious worship. It is very emotional, while at the same time structured, systematic, and sensible. The medium is successful at establishing emotional ties to the supernatural while remaining rational and practical about the needs of life.
While music is great at bringing people together around a common cause such as religion or nationalism, it is also very good at helping people define themselves. The many different types of music often cause people to want to identify with a certain genre, subgenre, or composer. This results in groups of fans united around a certain type of music. Often these groups are informal, but formal fan clubs develop as well. Sometimes entire subcultures and even religions are formed around a genre. The notable Rastafari religious movement owes much of its popularity to reggae music. Other subcultures are also built around music, such as the heavy metal subculture, which has its own symbols and fashions.
Music is a central part of society because it is universally effective at bringing people together and helping them find their identity. It has intertwined with culture all around the world. Music belongs among the most influential and beneficial of all aspects of society, along with essential components such as religion, government, industry, and the media.