Who are we?
(taken from James Sire's Universe Next Door)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
A.F. + B.O. = B.F.F.
With everyone going insane over Barack Obama, I can't help but feel that he's going to take over the world. I imagine that this is what Hitler was like before people realized he was a maniac. But, I wasn't around back then so I can say nothing for sure. And, the fact that Barack seems to be a darling candidate may just be a lie of the media. Perhaps he is benign and popular. Perhaps he is malicious and popular.
Arcade Fire's Win Butler says "Barack is the first candidate in my lifetime to strip some of this bullshit away, and I just hope we don't blow this chance."
Arcade Fire is the type of rock band that seems infallible, that can almost do no wrong. Everything I hear about them is good, and their music is very good. Perhaps they are benign, partly Canadian, and popular. Perhaps they are malicious, partly American, and popular.
Arcade Fire's Win Butler says "Barack is the first candidate in my lifetime to strip some of this bullshit away, and I just hope we don't blow this chance."
Arcade Fire is the type of rock band that seems infallible, that can almost do no wrong. Everything I hear about them is good, and their music is very good. Perhaps they are benign, partly Canadian, and popular. Perhaps they are malicious, partly American, and popular.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Roots and anchors and things that hold us in one place.
Roots Day in the Park is coming in only 4 days! I'm dreadfully excited, and scared. It's the first thing that Mieke, Ben, Kristen, Justine, Amber, Aaron, Sarah, Garnet, Dan and I will try to do as a group for other people, and that's scary stuff somehow. None of us are perfect, but for 6 hours on Saturday we are responsible for a buttload of people's bodies, minds, and in part, souls. It's the souls thing that's scaring me most - just because I'm supposed to figure out a way to lead all these people. And as I go from work to school, from "ickle firsty" to second year, from summer to fall, from not having Youth Group to having Youth Group, I can't help but get a drifty-changy feeling. (see also Justine's latest)
This transient feeling is not new, just more intense than normal. And the intensity scares me because I'm planning to talk about roots, anchors, and things that hold us in one place at the Roots Day. How the heck do I encourage others to understand what God has done for them when by my life I show that I don't really care?
I think that God's grace is huge in that He takes people that Satan is fighting tooth and nail to claim, and makes them trophies of grace. God polishes us up, makes us all nice and shiny, engraves His Name on us, and sticks us in His trophy case. And then God probably trash talks Satan (Job 1:8).
If you won't admit that you're broke, God probably won't fix you.
At least, that's how I think it goes.
Peace + Love, Ben
This transient feeling is not new, just more intense than normal. And the intensity scares me because I'm planning to talk about roots, anchors, and things that hold us in one place at the Roots Day. How the heck do I encourage others to understand what God has done for them when by my life I show that I don't really care?
I think that God's grace is huge in that He takes people that Satan is fighting tooth and nail to claim, and makes them trophies of grace. God polishes us up, makes us all nice and shiny, engraves His Name on us, and sticks us in His trophy case. And then God probably trash talks Satan (Job 1:8).
If you won't admit that you're broke, God probably won't fix you.
At least, that's how I think it goes.
Peace + Love, Ben
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I am / living in this house / this house!
Here's some photos of my crib for the summer, if you haven't been to visit yet. And, what are you waiting for? Let me know when you're coming over.
Front view, with Accordion.
Perennials left over from the previous owners.
Vegetable garden! and carrot! Yumm-o!
Front view from the roof
Hamilton from the roof! + trampoline! + backyard!
So, that's that! I like living here, with these guys. It's interesting that we are at the edge of suburbia - There is a horse farm in front of us and a subdivision behind us. There is also a large white sign in front of this house that tells anyone who cares that an application has been submitted to the City of Hamilton for the house's destruction. 5 subdivision boxes will be on this property in 4 years. I don't know how that makes me feel, but I know that I am thankful to have spent the last 3 months here.
Front view, with Accordion.
Perennials left over from the previous owners.
Vegetable garden! and carrot! Yumm-o!
Front view from the roof
Hamilton from the roof! + trampoline! + backyard!
So, that's that! I like living here, with these guys. It's interesting that we are at the edge of suburbia - There is a horse farm in front of us and a subdivision behind us. There is also a large white sign in front of this house that tells anyone who cares that an application has been submitted to the City of Hamilton for the house's destruction. 5 subdivision boxes will be on this property in 4 years. I don't know how that makes me feel, but I know that I am thankful to have spent the last 3 months here.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Busy.
I hate being busy. It doesn't really accomplish all that much.
To make up for it, I put a Muskoka chair on my roof and I drink my beer there.
That's all.
To make up for it, I put a Muskoka chair on my roof and I drink my beer there.
That's all.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Realism:
When I'm in a pine box, people will read the internet and say: "Wow. Grampa was cool. He wrote a blog! How endearing and soulful."
Actually, that was a lie.
When I open the cigar box full of old stuff I got from my Grampa, I get goosebumps. When people dust off their Macbooks 80 years from now and type www.benbouwman.blogspot.com into that crazy old thing they used to use called Firefox, will they get goosebumps at the garbage I write here? Doubt it.
I need to leave something behind that will yellow with age, that people will have to dig up and dust off, that they will be able to physically store and treasure, not look up on the internet every once in a while.
But who really cares? It's all going to burn anyway; that's what mom always says when Aunt Margaret talks on and on blah blah blah about her next addition to her collection of antique collections. Then Aunt Margaret goes red in the face, pours another glass of wine and says: "Yes that's true - But I love to have a Coll-eck-shun!"
I am an Aunt-like figure who has had far too much wine and who yells at the top of her lungs "I LOVE TO HAVE A COLLECTION!" until her nephew wishes that either he was not obliged to sit at the table with her or he was Harry Potter and could make her inflate.
Thoreau says that poor people are actually rich because they can do with less. He is right about that.
Actually, that was a lie.
When I open the cigar box full of old stuff I got from my Grampa, I get goosebumps. When people dust off their Macbooks 80 years from now and type www.benbouwman.blogspot.com into that crazy old thing they used to use called Firefox, will they get goosebumps at the garbage I write here? Doubt it.
I need to leave something behind that will yellow with age, that people will have to dig up and dust off, that they will be able to physically store and treasure, not look up on the internet every once in a while.
But who really cares? It's all going to burn anyway; that's what mom always says when Aunt Margaret talks on and on blah blah blah about her next addition to her collection of antique collections. Then Aunt Margaret goes red in the face, pours another glass of wine and says: "Yes that's true - But I love to have a Coll-eck-shun!"
I am an Aunt-like figure who has had far too much wine and who yells at the top of her lungs "I LOVE TO HAVE A COLLECTION!" until her nephew wishes that either he was not obliged to sit at the table with her or he was Harry Potter and could make her inflate.
Thoreau says that poor people are actually rich because they can do with less. He is right about that.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Life is Beautiful
You plant a rose
And if the rose comes up
You're thankful to God
And when it doesn't you cuss him
You raise a child
And when the child grows up
You got to learn to let go
If you can't learn to love him
But, oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Now I'm not saying only bad news comes
For the people who want it
But you gotta play that music for who's listening
You got to have someone you wanna sing it to
Oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Blue sky cracking and it makes me believe
Oh, hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Close my eyes, see the glorious sunset
Through the windows of a store and I want it
Anyway, if I ever felt haunted
You were there for me
These angry people who are waiting to judge you
Have their own judgment that they'll have live up to
Open your mouth
And if nothing come through
Remember
You're the one that sings
And it's a gift
And life's a beautiful thing
Oh, don't waste it doll
You build a house and if the house comes up
You gotta work on that house
If you want to make it your home
'Cause everything inside that's not something you own
Is what you're taking with you
On the day that you go
And oh, what a beautiful world when we sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Oh, hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Ryan Adams is a good singer and guitar player and writer. Someday, if I work up the courage, I might review his album "Cold Roses" on this site. It's maybe my favourite album ever.
And if the rose comes up
You're thankful to God
And when it doesn't you cuss him
You raise a child
And when the child grows up
You got to learn to let go
If you can't learn to love him
But, oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Now I'm not saying only bad news comes
For the people who want it
But you gotta play that music for who's listening
You got to have someone you wanna sing it to
Oh, what a beautiful thing when you sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Blue sky cracking and it makes me believe
Oh, hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Close my eyes, see the glorious sunset
Through the windows of a store and I want it
Anyway, if I ever felt haunted
You were there for me
These angry people who are waiting to judge you
Have their own judgment that they'll have live up to
Open your mouth
And if nothing come through
Remember
You're the one that sings
And it's a gift
And life's a beautiful thing
Oh, don't waste it doll
You build a house and if the house comes up
You gotta work on that house
If you want to make it your home
'Cause everything inside that's not something you own
Is what you're taking with you
On the day that you go
And oh, what a beautiful world when we sing
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
Hear all them bells ringing out in the street
Oh, hammer strikes the metal and it makes me believe
'Cause if I don't believe in love
Then I don't believe in you
And I do
Ryan Adams is a good singer and guitar player and writer. Someday, if I work up the courage, I might review his album "Cold Roses" on this site. It's maybe my favourite album ever.
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