Thing 1.

Hermeneutics is about rules of interpretation. This is the simplest one I can think of:
God is both creator and poet.

Philosophy.

The day after I thought philosophy was useless:
This
And, the day after I started thinking that there is no opportunity for a person like me to use philosophy:
This
I have to figure out what I'm going to write about/if I'm going to do it, but the privilege of speaking to such an audience would be like nothing I've ever experienced before.

Big Question # 1

Who are we?






(taken from James Sire's Universe Next Door)

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.

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

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.

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.