• canon • september 1 illustration • sara smallwood | canon • september • • canon • september 3 Joel Torrens Editor-in-Chief Mark Fisk Editor Margaret Roberts Layout and Design ...... 15 ...... 22 ...... 20 ...... 16 ...... 14 ...... 4 ...... 4 ...... 5 ...... 9, 11, 13 ...... 17 ...... 12 ...... 18 ...... 6 ...... 6 ...... 8 ...... 10

created and student driven! submit your artwork in any medium that transfers to created and student driven! submit your artwork you in the next issue • print to [email protected]! See < want to see your artwork here? or your name up here ^ the canon is student here ^ the canon is student < want to see your artwork here? or your name up What I’m... What Know Toronto Get To T.T.C. Tolkien T.T.C. Spencer Thomas ...... 21 The Sobbit Lena Rigby Jeremy Prince Poetry Fyodor Lewis Letter From the Editor Mark Fisk Columns at Tyndale Epistle to the Headbangers All The Fuss | A Review of Love Wins All The Fuss | A Review Jeff Baker Kyle Chatzis-Fox Terms Glossary Tyndalian of Jeremy Prince Romanian Reminiscing Metaphor for Life Metaphor A Letter from the President A Letter from Keith Brink Frosh Week Memories Frosh Week Cruickshank Tim Features Table of Contents Table introduction qua introduction • canon • september • 4 ing for some frame of reference, someoverlap ing for someframe of do you...? Have you ever...? Here, again, you look are yourcome inmany favourite...? forms: What’s What along thesamelineassecondquestion. Itcan questiongoes third onto questionnumberthree. The have you not, have something tomove todiscuss, if place oratleastknow something aboutitsothatyou question isasked inhopethatyou’ve beentothat ya fitsintoyours. from?” their story old“Where The lookingaren’t for theirstory, you looking are for how reference. You you lookingWhat are for isaframeof it. you haven’t of heard to you if andarich itwon’t meananythingculture but history Africawithaninteresting of part name someobscure they second questionisalsoaplaceholder; could The upthatsoundthenextjure timeyou seetheperson. soundsothatyour braincancon of under somesort youis justaplaceholder; needtofilethefaceyou see doyou What like?from? Etc., etc. question first The you are your name?Where them questions:What’s want you itto.When want toknow someoneyou ask factis, only The anintroduction tellsyou what you inthissociety...portant Or sothey say. soim why are impressions andfirst introductions whichtend tothinkwe know atthestart, thestory is the hipster, You “What? haven’t thisone?”We heard ready tosay “OhI’ve thatonebefore” or, heard like beentold.Weknow before it’s thestory always are we humans—arrogant aswe tothinkwe are—tend never thegoal. goal The isalways thestory. However, while andunavoidable, necessary is theintroduction toastory, every isaprelude ter all, introduction and way we canget story. totheinteresting The part: Af Anyway, the now thattheboring outof are parts want you ithere. toshare canshare youmagazine, have opinions, orsomething art, if you studentrun Tyndale’s I look.Asfor it’s theCanon, you new, are you cansay hianytime. I’mnicerthan know aboutmethanIknow more aboutyou if and, you’ve before you probably beenatTyndale line. If would beboring. You know my name, intheby- it’s that ortheCanonhere, but duction aboutmyself You intro might expect of metowritesomesort Letter from theEditor|MarkFisk - - - - - him (which, subconsciously, hadlargely beenbased stance andIdiscovered thatmy assumptionsabout becoming close chance friendsthrough andcircum acquaintances for acouple years. We endedup not seekouthisfriendshipandwe merely remained what Ithoughta‘spoiled rich-kid’ like. dresses Idid like minedressed Case inpoint:anacquaintanceof what they wear.much aboutthemselves becauseof people(oftenthesamepeople)who hide amount of in what they wear. However, anequal are there people who deliberately say alotaboutthemselves simply by what they wear. many are there Granted, to weed potentialfriends outacquaintancesfrom Before we even get toverbal we introductions tend have something totalkabout. insomething interested are you are, thenyou will theybetween your andyour story acquaintance’s. If ones thatyou would notexpect. have something the beststoriesare you The don’t. thepeople that thoseare people you from; canlearn fewand struggle totalkthefirst times. the are Those you haveble toyou; nothing especially if incommon they different ordisagreea are they are, especially if say this:Cultivate inpeople for aninterest whoever letmejust tointroductions To endthisintroduction peopleyouthe more willfindinteresting. things the more in, son. Therefore, you interested are inthat per tween you; you looking are for yourself on you. You looking are for something be shared you talkingdepend ontheperson are to, itdepends ornot you Whether findsomeone interesting doesn’t interestingmore for thosedifferences. other asundeniably different and(we discovered) aswemon interests hadfew; we hadtoaccepteach it.Werather thanhindered couldnotrely oncom I would say thatthisstrengthened ourfriendship aligned, notmuch elseinourlives did.However, very fewshared andwhile interests ourphilosophies andhecertainly spoiled.HeandI than that, isn’t would considera‘rich-kid,’ heissomuch but more up by clothes oreven interests. Myfriendiswhat I thatcannotbesummed their uniquepersonhood (we alldoitsubconsciously) you taking are away you When judge somebody by what they wear Godly, andintentionalperson. on hisclothes) were false. Hewas, andis, afriendly,

- - - - - • • canon • september | poem • When Your Eyes are Green • Fyodor Lewis 5 But to remain in awe And wonder Swimming be: may inexplicable that the And hoping is taken; That that dive when deep down dive That dangerous find yourselfYou in the fathoms to breathe Not needing No, the sea Man does not own her Though claim he may Though sail across the surface he may at the shores And gaze Though hunt the deeps he may And find the hidden places her for his love Though declare he may her. own never He may For the sea is free And fair And unfathomable. ownership So it is better not to quest for no claim It is better to make Or conquest The sea threatens him to drown And the storms of cast him on some deserted shore the sea can always to find home again... Never That him... owns it is the sea that The sea embraces him The sea holds him up The more he dives in The moredives he The morefinds he No, the sea The morewatches he The morepursues he her But who can own the sea? can own But who he treads the waters as his? What man can claim I want to find all there is ofI want eyes your in there, you, Find it own as my And embrace it I want to lose myselfI want in those waters air come up for and never into those eyes to dive I want the surface hints at the deeps that to explore I want Or the dark green of forests alpine But the green at the surface of deep waters And I gaze aslant into your eyes into your aslant And I gaze They green... appear to be green ofbright Not the sun kissed grass Or the rain Or the from me away looking you’re Or when In the dim light In the canon • september • 6 first impression. You impression. first only get oneshot atitbefore Here’s thething: you only get onechance tomake a was moveThis inday atTyndale. next adventure inmy life. was the was thebeginning it.This occasion. This of scrounged upmy Dad’s old school glasses for the caping against torest my forehead. AndIhadeven comb-overpure perfection, withjustonecurles Dad hadhelpedtiemy inmy tie. part hairwas The a calculator, andsomeLifesaver mints(sogood). My and Ihadstocked pocket thebreast withafew pens, was tothetop shoes were shined.Myshirt buttoned My black pin-stripedpantswere crisply My ironed. of Frosh Memories - whole lot of unknown. Yes,whole lot of alittlescary, that’s but weekyou. week for a Frosh isagreat you. There’s was agoodThat day. Move inday isagood day for lar innotimeasIhanded heramint. me atthedoor, toldmethatIwould besuperpopu way. Michelle, thestudentcouncilmember greeting down asIstrutted thehall andstared people turned as stereotypically nerdy aspossible. Yup, sure pretty is whyworth. That Ishowed dressed upatTyndale people know you. Might as wellit for milk allthat it’s Week •Tim Cruickshank - - • canon • september • 7 ------cause of to Tyndale! the retreat. Welcome a real job have to graduatedand needing now Having dark alley each to approach how I am still learning Treat it as such, and blind corner as an adventure. to Welcome into the unknown. journey relish your great adventure! next your Okay, I think that I’m running out here. Maybe it is Maybe here. out running I think that I’m Okay, in in a car the fact that I slept 4 1/2 hours last night am on a ferry I to now lot. Right parking a church out to be My buddy and I are driving Newfoundland! All three of wedding. have in our friend’s us would the first at Tyndale. time that froshmet for week you. takes life where Funny Frosh week game. One last story Jays though. Blue had We All the frosh went. second year. in my to deco up some blue paint with which scrounged it did! Actually, and decorate we rate our bodies, consisted of mostly letters onto our chests, painting fan will do. (male) Blue Jays self-respecting as any us a loud. Pretty were sure Marco Scutaro gave We every and screaming dancing were We little salute. the Jumbo made it onto and probably got we chance appeared on the time we Each times. tron a solid four a mad dash make would nearby Jumbotron anyone the won a frosh dude, into the shot. Caleb, to squeeze to the fan of free tickets He got that night. the game be but couldn’t the dugout, go by TD seats down ple hiding under cars in ambush for hours, stalking stalking cars under hours, in ambush for ple hiding othersin the grocery sans-clothing running or store, to Tyndale! Paranoia. Welcome through backyards. the Nerf I and fun still sounds game the way, (by paranoia or not) those clothespins, enjoyed always frosh meal for every you: for Here is a challenge I didn’t real people. different sit at a table with week 3 weeks friends until probably closest befriend my ly table. meal. Different Do it. Each year. into the school in a clique. stuck Don’t get people. Different entire the frosh week go Here challenge: is another I name. your learning Sweetman without George be a robot from the future. think that he might one of ofProbably the highlights the retreat is the been some great There ac have game. boat building to fun But the boats are always cheers. companying Here is a piece ofwatch. if advice: defeat, fear you Pirates Tyndale their ship. go pirate on them and sink I Actually, experience. I have Trust me, lose. never and board seas attack high seen a clever never have Think about it. ing. ------ways thought it sounded fun, until I heard thought it sounded fun, ofways peo season approaches. season approaches. there they is a city in the States where Apparently Nerf an annual I al used to have elimination war. year I will not be at frosh week, but my body still not be at frosh I will body but week, year my mind distracted as the Gotcha tense and my feels Gotcha. Anyways, ever year they play this game and this game play they year ever Anyways, Gotcha. been consumed with paranoia for I have year every span of Thiswhatever until I lose. minutes or days organizes this game where you have a clothespin a clothespin have you where this game organizes to find the person have name and you and a person’s are out. It is called and pin it on them and then they Clothespins. You wanna talk paranoia? Yup, I am go talk paranoia? Yup, wanna You Clothespins. the student council year Every Clothespins. there. ing with bells and baskets on them. We never found any found never on them. We with bells and baskets anybody found never we years In fact, in all my body. out. Bummer. sneaking ing out to fan the flames of romance. We looked of looked out to fan the flames ing We romance. pants with track Picture this: navy pretty awesome. and....bikes sweaters, rocking the side, stripes down camp. (Sorry, you can’t use the bikes anymore, they they anymore, can’t use the bikes you (Sorry, camp. pa started a bike We year). that up after them locked frosh couples sneak to try to catch trol late at night Tyndale! at the some bikes found an RA. We I was Second year. (YES, I said that, he smuggled a machete to frosh a machete I said that, he smuggled (YES, around the room, tossing retreat) walking and was to Welcome it around in his hands. it and flipping thing wouldn’t have kept the queen from her golden the queen from her golden kept have wouldn’t thing for not ready There was one guy who was slumber. Josh had decided to pull out his machete No, bed yet. at night, guys are climbing into their beds. The single The single into their beds. guys are climbing at night, is still on, in the cabin but that light dim, flickering bunk was pushed up against this other one and I was was this other one and I up against pushed bunk was dude a queen bed with this big sharing pretty much So it’s late met before. I had never named Paul who these haggard old cabins over at Fair Glen (don’t old cabins over these haggard to learn that this was took one year it only worry, My haggard. I mean really a bad idea). By haggard Okay, it was my first year. We were on the retreat. were We first year. my it was Okay, the guys in Tyndale had been duped into putting present in some way, as a frosh, a student leader, as a frosh, a student leader, present some way, in at the tunes the past couple years some or playing retreat. you, encourage you, humour you, or even bring you you bring or even you, humour you, encourage you, I should best). By the way, be the to tears (that would been I have 6 frosh that the previous mention weeks I’m going to share a few of share to a few frommemories I’m going frosh my inspire they will. May you them what Do with week. it’s also SO exciting! it’s SO exciting! also •Tim Cruickshank 8 Letter from Student Council • Keith Brink Dear friends of 2011 – 2012, new creations that serve His purposes. The next few You are attending Tyndale at an exciting time in its years for Tyndale will have some of that process of journey as a university. Tyndale is entering a time breaking down and rebuilding in store for all of us. of change and transition. You are likely aware of God is intentionally and purposefully creating a new canon • september the move to the Bayview campus happening in two Tyndale out of the remnants of the old. years’ time. At the same time that this major physical change happens at Tyndale, there is also growth in Your part in these next steps for Tyndale is crucial. the size of the school, becoming a thriving medium Have a dream for the new Tyndale. If you see po- sized university from what was a small, financially tential, pursue it. Do not hesitate to get involved. Be struggling Bible college in the 90s. present. Follow your passion and give it to your fel- You have the potential to be a major player in shap- low students through your own student organization. ing the future of Tyndale. The honest truth is that Tyndale is your school: own it. not one of us has a perfect grasp of how the next few years are going to develop for Tyndale. In fact, these Thank you, coming years will likely be chaotic and confusing for everyone. Let me be clear: Chaos is an exciting thing! Chaos is the point at which things are the most disordered, but have the most potential to be formed into a new kind of order, because each of us finally can see that control is an illusion. Life is as infinitely complex as a fractal pattern, and attempting to control the details can only lead to missing the big picture. That means that no one at Tyndale will be able to control the details of the upcoming change. I can’t, you can’t, the Student Life department can’t, and even Dr. Gary Nelson can’t. The only, only way that change can happen is when each one of you are empowered and engaged in building the new culture and future of Tyndale. One unique characteristic of God is that He tends to work in paradoxes. Jean Mackenle Verpre was visiting his old school in Haiti when the earthquake struck. He lay buried in rubble for 48 hours before he was finally found. As the rescuers cut into the de- bris that trapped him, his agonizing screams pierced through the air as the cutting torch heated the metal crushing his arms. His recovery was slow and pain- ful. A reporter asked him what kept him going through his traumatic experience, and his reply was unhesitating: He put his life into God’s hands. Some- how, a time of devastation is when people are most faithful and trusting in God. Keith Brink In a similar way, God paradoxically works through President of Tyndale University College Student As- chaos to create new order. As the Potter, God takes sociation vessels that are flawed and makes them into brand • canon • september | poem • A Moment • Lena Rigby 9 you’re capturing me. capturing you’re that moment And it’s when of and peace epiphany heart, beautiful your rushes over be satisfied, that I will finally the score will be tied. knowing and even though and even realized it yet, haven’t you me. capturing you’re these moments, With of silent clarity, more than mild comfort, and anxiety easiness, rolled up into a ball of happiness that sits in the centre of chest, my It was that moment, It was glance, your caught between smile, and your glowed eyes brown your when to work, heart forgot and my winning. were you that I knew you against My fight but futile, nothing was 10 A Metaphor for Life • Jeremy Prince I’m nervous as I walk through the door into the shop. thinner ones inside. As the work progresses and the No matter how many times I do this I still get the jit- stencil has been covered, he switches to the blue ink, ters. I guess the permanency of what I’m about to do and starts to work by eye. His artistic flair taking can be very unsettling. I see him there, getting every- over. I remember a time when I couldn’t look at the canon • september thing set up. I wish I could have gotten the design to process; the mixture of blood and ink left me feeling him earlier, that could have given him more time to queasy. Now however, my curiosity at seeing a piece prepare. Just another reminder of how much I trust of art take form outweighs the other feelings. him. I hand off the picture and watch intently as he gets the stencil ready. Slowly and carefully tracing As the session draws to a close, he wipes off my out the lines, making small adjustments where he arm with a wet clothe, the coolness eases the burn- feels the image needs. Simplifying a part here, re- ing pain. He and I settle up, and I head out. I know moving a section there and sometimes enlarging por- that over the next few weeks I’ll need to be cautious. tions. Again I’m reminded of my trust in him, how Taking care not to do anything that would impede can I question someone who knows his craft so well? the healing process. I dread the ugly scabbing and It may not be exactly what I had envisioned, but I the horrible itch I’m not supposed to scratch. I know know the result will be amazing. though, that once it’s all done healing, it will all have been worth it. I sit down in the usual seat, and I can smell the disinfectant and ink. A strangely comforting smell, As I contemplate my tattoos, and my time spent get- have you ever stopped to think of the odd things in ting them, I can’t help but think of what our God life that we not only get used to, but also come to does for us. Our lives are troubled, filled with pain enjoy. The smell of freshly mown lawns is another and suffering. Yet it is through that very pain that of those scents for me. I push up my sleeve so he God shapes us. Like the tattoos I love so much, the has more room to work. He pulls out a fresh razor, beauty that comes after the pain and healing is so one of those cheap ones you find at any pharmacy. I very worth it. really dislike this part, no matter how comfortable I am with him; having another person shave you will always remain awkward. He carefully places the stencil on my arm, transferring the purple outline from the paper onto my arm. Frustrated he wipes it off; he tells me it isn’t straight. The fact that he strives for perfection even in this small step is one of the very reasons I always come back to him. The second try proves to be a success.

He turns from me and assembles his tools. He loads the needles into the gun and prepares the ink, black and blue for today’s work. Dipping the needles into the ink he starts the gun, it sounds like a dentist drill. Far from a sound that would put a person at ease. Slowly he presses the gun with its many needles to my skin. I watch as he draws the first line. Seeing that I’m able to endure the pain he begins to works faster, breaking to wipe away the excess ink and refresh the ink on the needles. At first he follows the stencil outline, thick black lines on the outside and • canon • september | poem • A Month • Lena Rigby 11 anytime soon. anytime for a thirty day vacation, vacation, a thirty day for chaos, from my away teary from eyes. my away left. You’ve in the But maybe now” right “I’m just not available type of way, but either way, back I don’t be coming think you’ll as the same person ...or at least it seems that way. ...or at least it seems that way. between I am wandering memories of smiles and memories of embarrassment, of to debate which trying these ofreminds you me the most. I pushed you Have into this radio silence? you I exiled Have actions ? and my words with my willingly, gone you Or have You’ve left. You’ve And not in that back” “I’ll be right type of way. gone. really But you’re 12 Romanian Reminiscing • Kyle Chatzis-Fox My name is Kyle. director. The other kids on the trip were all totally 4 months ago, if you asked me if I would be will- wiped out and no one else could have the energy or ing to go overseas to participate in a missions trip, enthusiasm to impress the director. We ended up go- I would have said no (politely of course) and then ing to that specific orphanage 3 more times because canon • september maybe thrown my arms wildly in the air asking why they loved us so much. you think I would want to go. ...Maybe not with arms being thrown wildly in the In addition to that, there was a principal from a air. My point is, missions was never on the fron- nearby school visiting and she watched us at that tal lobe of my mind or even on my radar. Until the orphanage. When she saw us she demanded we visit month of June. What started as a typical online ‘hi, her school. We went there and did a very quick 30 how are you?’ conversation evolved into me signing minute presentation of the Gospel in skit form. At up for a month-long missions trip in Romania. By the end of our trip our leaders told us with great joy July 7th I was in Texas training to go on my missions that since we did such a great job at the orphanage trip to Romania through a non-profit mission organ- and school the principal and the director of the or- ization known as Teen Mania. They are also respon- phanage wanted the church to be more involved with sible for Acquire The Fire that is held in various cities the children in the orphanage and the nearby public every year. While in Romania our sole purpose was school. Also, they told us that 30-40 schools were to preach the Gospel to children both Romanian and being built in the area and they wanted the church to Gypsies alike by using various vacation bible school have an impact in those schools as well. Just knowing programs. We went to parks, including some sports that we have impacted that many lives is incredible park, Gypsy villages, orphanages, one being a rehab and definitely an eye opener to the things God can do facility, and a children’s hospital. in a short amount of time. On one specific day, our leaders told us that we had to go to a Gypsy orphanage that was run by a strict This is just one of the many miraculous stories that I Baptist church. The orphanage wanted us to go and not only witnessed, but was also a part of, in Roma- present a vacation bible school program and it was nia. I can tell many more stories of lives being radi- important we did a good job so they would allow cally changed for the Gospel, people healed of vari- other missionary organizations (like Teen Mania) to ous sicknesses (both on the team and through people return on future trips. Since it was strictly run, there we have met). was no dancing allowed. Most of our skits and songs But it doesn’t have to end in Romania. God works required dancing so we had to create two new VBS worldwide and is not confined to one city or country programs on the spot and present them the follow- at a time. So if this is what God has done in Romania ing day. My group wanted me to be the MC for the in three weeks, my question to you, the reader, is program as well as play a major role in 3 skits. I had this: no choice but to take the job. I was very nervous. I prayed on the bus and prayed What can God do in eight months here at Tyndale? again as soon as I grabbed the mike. Suddenly, all my worry literally left me and it felt like water going down a drain. I also got a huge surge of energy and confidence. The director of the orphanage told us 15 minutes into the presentation that she loved us and wanted us to come back. She said our VBS program was ‘nothing less than perfect’. I was very proud of the hard work we did and I felt very strongly that being the MC was specifically something God wanted me to do just for the purpose of impressing the • canon • september | poem • A Year • Lena Rigby 13 another month, year. and another thankful Thank you. all over my memory bank my all over and frankly, other way. it any have I don’t think I’d From here on in, come organically I let you morning, bright into each afternoon, rainy every of cup perfect every tea, starryand every night, ghost-steps your leaving that guide me to another moment, And I have moments, moments, And I have and years months, cabinets stored in the filing of cerebrum my that are sorted and dated, with smiles and frowns. learned, I have aren’tthat you erasable. written in permanent ink You’re calendar, my all over I have at least I have hundred and sixty one thousand four thoughts of you. From the major ways to the slightest encountered you. that I’ve canon • september • 14 and/orthesubway toget there. you taking are abus Finch, especially if southof res, anywhere it’s 1. Tothosewho rarely get outof noun Downtown |doun-toun| thebaseballdiamond’s theforest, bleachers anything. view Popularhangouts: of theswings, andSteeles. Incidentally, really itdoesn’t have a for1. Short Bestview parkwhich isbetween Tyndale noun Bestview |best-vyoo| thatnew place. Japanese Cup, Subway, PizzaPizza, and(I’manticipating) SteelesandLaurelleaf. Popularhangouts: Second outby thestores Plaza.It’s for1. Short Laurelleaf noun |lorel-eef| Laureleaf Ballyconnor campus. mainfloor eating1. The establishmentatthe noun Muffin Shop|muh-finshaw-p| Coffee Shop|kaw-fee shaw-p| Café |ka-fay| “Sure, like Ihaven’t thatonebefore.” heard “I thoughtyou said‘the you would?” “Hey why you didn’t meetusinthe socialissues: which Kat, leadstoalotof thechapel. said quickly When oftenmistaken for for onthesecondfloor1. Short Cafeteria, it’s near noun |kaf| Caf ortalking withfriends know they shouldbedoing by playing games and/ peoplehang outandgenerally avoid thework they for thestudentlounge1. Short Katimavik, where noun |kat| Kat A GlossaryofyourTypical Tyndalian Lexicon Kat ’.” Caf like you said noun Bayview |bae-vyoo| Bayview campus. Ballyconnor2. The campusasopposedtothe ison Tyndale street 1. The noun Ballyconnor |ballee-kawner| you know don’t thisonewelcome toToronto. 1. If noun T-dot |tee-dawt| Toronto. theEast-endof 1. Scarborough, noun Scar-Town |skar-toun| Scarberia |skar-bee-ri-uh| Scarlem |skar-lem| their entire life theirentire inthechurch. apastor, theoffspring usually Kid, 1. Pastors spent of noun P.K. |pee-kay| notnecessarily) (but homeschooled. usually spentmany years overseas, was possibly amissionary, theoffspring Kid, 1. Missionary of noun M.K. |em-kay| Bayview2. The campus. closest toTyndale. street 1. The mainnorth-south • canon • september 15 - some other part of all his will. We the end of know freedom: the freedom to swing fists ends at my But this nose. your Thisis different. is discretion. And while all the time, making were we about the jokes wrath of females and the disgusting nature of lustful we males, the most overlooked – important thing a all have that we hard time understanding volunteers. sired expectation ofsired expectation will come his death. He exerts of is regardless his satisfaction and may what addi tional consequences. My God! He acts to his according nature to the point of death death by – even decapitation! The poignant observation is that the male mantis loses his head in subordination to - - - - - A column written by local derelict intellectual by local derelict written A column Here is my theory: We all know that the all know theory:Here We is my It is nonsense, but I will at least begin to but I will at least begin It is nonsense, I often reflect on the value of value on the I often reflect – tan things

still a consenter. The as is male desires to fertilize, still a consenter. the unde for accounting while his natural mandate, while usually apt to make an escape, engages in the engages escape, an apt to make usually while he is yet, intention to kill; the female’s act knowing phorically for immature statements about all kinds for phorically Theof but there untruths, is no need to be so vulgar. consider is that the male, do not wholly point many intercourse, the cannibalizes during mantis, female has served meta his head. The image eating male by tongue and erase them from all the dictionaries? Will from and erase them all the dictionaries? Will tongue vindicate mantis me? Or will the praying destroy you me! full offull Who all the nonsensi will destroy nonsense. them from Whocal words! societies vile will remove to do with food. This formula likewise accounts for accounts for Thisto do with food. likewise formula addictions to pornography. I am believe You foreseen. this was disagree; You presumption of in that satisfaction, and I must stress, Iforder. and then desires satisfaction to Jill expects a health problemhas nothing that eat, she will have explain – even if – even explain There it is all nonsense. is will first a desire second, and a to eat like and expectation yes to the former and no to the very latter. Let me latter. and no to the very to the former yes explain. our motives, and the motives reflect our being, and and our being, reflect and the motives our motives, real? I Are these things lets slip our essence. being that. But the consensus is generally cannot answer subject to our discriminatory powers. These powers subject to our discriminatory powers. and these capabilities betray our capabilities, betray unfeelable, untouchable, immaterial, in which there immaterial, in which untouchable, unfeelable, lies great distracted cretins) interest but (to so many and is is stored in objects, the real. Value none for gible things, that one can feel with their fingers or with their fingers one can feel that gible things, the latter are just as tan with their soul (for touch gible if authentic); and this all in contrast to the parts uneven. didactic purposes), but and invertebrates insectoids of in conscientious kinds capture all the imagination dilution ofa foolish or evil, good, be it for observers, praying mantis. Now I would be the first to say that that be the first to say I would Now mantis. praying about things no person should speak intelligently outside of their area of for (especially expertise • T.T.C. Tolkien • T.T.C. all misunderstood the this theorywe’ve that I have The Sobbit | Sobbit The 16 What I’m...

Listening To Watching canon • september Every now and then I’ll make a Friday Night Lights is centred on Hey everyone! To playlist for someone of some of a high school football team and those of you are fa- my favourite music, and inevi- their coach in the fictional town miliar with the Canon tably they all include a few of of Dillon, Texas. The show goes the same songs. One such song through the team’s highs and in recent years, this is Skeleton of Something More lows, as well as the coach and is something strange by Sleeping at Last. I strug- his family’s situations. It deals and new, to those of gle to describe it, occasionally with issues like premarital sex, you who aren’t, feel comparing it to Coldplay meets abortion, drug and alcohol use, free to ignore this Radiohead, but really not hav- pride, and marriage, along with paragraph. This year ing a clue. The sound is so large a myriad of others. Coach Tay- in a floating way that makes lor, the main character in the we wanted to take an you feel as if it’s best listened to show, is a very inspiring char- opportunity to profile outdoors. It’s been a while since acter, and he is definitely one of what media Tyndale they released that song on their the main reasons why I watched students are consum- album Ghosts, but not much the show. Honestly, as I watched ing. Each month we has changed about Sleeping at this show, I felt like this fictional will profile a book, Last’s sound. They have released man was mentoring me. He a few albums, and, like far too showed more love, compassion, a band/album, and many of my favourite bands, respect, authority, and good a movie/TV show. have even had a song or two parenting skills than I have ever If you’re wondering on Grey’s Anatomy. They just seen, almost always with a hint where this month’s finished an innovative project of Christian morality. book is don’t worry, called Yearbook. Every first of This show is hands down the it’s in here. Jeff Baker the month they release a new best show I have ever watched, 3-song EP featuring various pro- from start to finish. It is an apparently forgot his ducers, musicians, and friends edge-of-the-seat-have-to- word limit so his is a such as Jon Foreman. Look them watch-another-episode show. featured article on up, they are well worth the There were times when my Rob Bell’s Love Wins. listen. roommate and I stayed up until If you have something • Joel Torrens 3am watching because it was so you want to share good. I recommend this show to anyone who watches any TV at write in and tell us all. This is not just a football lov- about it and why it’s ing kind of show. It has some- worth checking out in thing for everybody. Clear Eyes, 100-200 words. Full Hearts, Can’t Lose. • Jeremy Giesbrecht • canon • september | poem • Lost and Alone • Jeremy Prince 17 A reminder of a hug or a kiss. a better time, to feel. it’s something I’m near to tears, to reveal. but I need to share, I fear failed so often, please not again. I’ve can hear. you I know Help me, are near. you I know with me, Walk to fear. nothing I’llhave me, Love Lost and alone, I wander the halls. I wander Lost and alone, distant. all feel they Surrounded people, by but I can’t me, hear the words. drift over Voices last night. again I dreamed about you so real, if So vivid, I wonder think of you me. face. to see your It still hurts so much a connection, a true for embrace. I long to hold. A simple taste of something familiarity, 18 All the Fuss | a review of Love Wins • Jeff Baker Recently I was writing a sermon drawing paral- created and not necessarily forever. He also does lels between Elijah calling Elisha, and Jesus call- believe that Jesus is the only way into the Kingdom of ing his disciples (You can find a recording of it on Heaven, he just thinks that that might be a broader my website! [what a shameless plug!] http://www. statement than what we have traditionally under- canon • september twoxtwo.ca); to give an accurate picture of why the stood it to be. details of each story were significant I wanted to ex- I think Bell’s intended purpose is to start a discus- plain why on earth someone would drop everything sion about a topic that is not talked about very often, they were doing and follow a complete stranger. I or very accurately, in the church, and to challenge remembered watching a Nooma video a few years assumed ideas about that topic and our motives back that explained the cultural significance of a behind assuming those ideas. Essentially he is ask- Rabbi calling someone by giving a detailed outline ing “Is Hell really the way we think it is? And is of the Jewish educational system. I quickly flipped God’s love and grace powerful enough to save even through my Nooma collection looking for the title the most depraved sinner from it? And, if so, will “Dust” only to realize my Nooma series was miss- he do that?” He talks a lot about how Christians ing a few volumes. “No matter” I thought, “I will like to focus on who is “in” and who is “out” and just look it up on YouTube.” I logged onto my com- then asks whether that should be our focus at all, or puter and headed to that oh so frequented site and whether we should be more concerned with enact- typed in “Nooma Dust”. To my frustration I realized ing the Kingdom of God now rather than waiting that Christian copyrights are somehow way better for it to show up later. Truth be told, I agree with enforced than non Christian ones (friggin goody- him on a lot of points. I don’t think Hell should goods...). What I found instead was video after video be our focus; I think the church’s (and most of our of people declaring Rob Bell (The host of the Nooma culture’s) view of Hell is largely based on the works series and prominent Christian author) a universalist of Dante and less on scripture; I think we should and a heretic. I quickly scanned my over-flustered spend our time living what Jesus taught in a very memory and seemed to recall Rob Bell writing some literal way and less time condemning people when book (called Love Wins) last winter that got everyone we have NO idea what we’re even talking about. I all in a tizzy. I am a fairly big Rob Bell fan, (hence think it’s foolish of anyone, no matter how well read my extensive, yet incomplete, Nooma collection), they are, or how spiritual, to assume they know how so I was having trouble believing that my dear Rob judgement day will pan out. I think whether or not Bell could ever be considered a heretic! I eventu- someone goes to Hell is between them and God; we ally found the clip I needed, and finished my sermon have neither the authority, nor the knowledge to put (again, check the website, ;-P) but I couldn’t get this them there, or assert that we are, or are not, there now months old controversy out of my head. Hav- ourselves. I think if Bell does have a failing, it’s that ing finished the bulk of my summer preaching, and in many cases he does not go far enough. He talks having not yet started reading ahead for the coming about the instances where Jesus references Hell and semester, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. says how Jesus used the word “Gehenna” which is I bought the book. I read the book. I liked the book. a reference to the valley of Hinnom which was the Here’s what I thought… national garbage pit where people took their trash First let me say that I don’t think Rob Bell is a uni- to be burned. He talks about how there were lots of versalist. I also noticed a lot of parallels between dogs in Gehenna who would try to eat the garbage what he wrote in Love Wins and many of the themes and so would stand around gnashing their teeth. He that C.S. Lewis wrote about in The Last Battle (so if then says that when Jesus says things like “It is better you’re upset at Rob Bell, be upset at C.S. Lewis too). for you to lose one part of your body than for your If you haven’t read the book, let me set some things whole body to be thrown into [Gehenna]” (Matt. straight for you. Bell does believe in Hell (many peo- 5:29) he is actually referring to throwing your body ple claimed he didn’t), he just believes Hell is self- into a flaming garbage heap, an image that the Jews • canon • september 19 - - - - God, and in doing so, loving everyone else as well, as well, else everyone loving so, God, and in doing that’s kind of Bell because really, the point. I’m glad I readwrote the book. I even the book. I’m glad and yourself, readrecommend Allow the book. you you. for It’s good beliefs to be challenged. your it!] http:// guessed (For this and more visit [you www.twoxtwo.ca) stand. Now I’m not convinced that there that isn’t a time for I’m not convinced Now Hell that repentance after death, convinced I’m not death” that the “second or forever, or not is forever, isn’t annihila just some Revelation about in talked tion of the parts ofus that cannot enter the King all of that be dom (whether But I us or just some). that there is an eternal not convinced am definitely to repent to freewindow make us from we a Hell the and God in both this age refusing by ourselves to come. age There with, and a lot that is a lot in this book I agree Hell shouldn’t that be our fo I don’t. I do agree But of need to let the words and that we cus, Jesus Christ to prepare now us visibly and shape our lives form focus When we come. to in the age the kingdom for in and who’s and Hell, and who’s on Heaven merely of lose sight out, and our earthly we the Kingdom the Gos on the Gospel, live must focus We purpose. on loving work us, the Gospel to change pel, allow ------in some kind of purge-a-tory... I dunno), which Bell I dunno),in some kind of which purge-a-tory... talks about. actually Jesus is God.) If abide in the presence God cannot of without some cannot enter the kingdom sin then we ofform of repentance or purging our sin (perhaps presence was removed when Jesus took on the sin of when removed presence was (kind ofthe world that hard to do too considering ence of Jesus took on the when that sin, to the extent sin of turn God had to his face from the world him. me?” God’s forsaken you have Jesus asks God, “why ing what we can and can’t do (because he loves us), can and can’t do (because he loves we what ing break those restrictions. we and punishes us when that he cannot stand in the pres so Holy God is Holy, come; but God is justice, so he must punish sin. God come; but God is justice, restrict by his children so he disciplines is a father, ing or unjust or unholy would be to act as not God, be to act would or unjust or unholy ing us and wants God loves God cannot do. Yes, which to person on Earthevery to be with him in the age lot about how God can do anything, but the truth is God can do anything, lot about how correct) God cannot do an (and this is theologically him not God. To act unlov make that would ything a fan than a lover. Yes, God is love; but God is also God is love; Yes, a fan than a lover. talk a We and God is Holy. God is a father, Justice, rock star that you are a huge fan of. You can’t know can’t know You fan of. are a huge star that you rock dimensions ofthe different because their character are more of You up on their fame. are too hung you is Lord. My issue with this is that he is assuming that that Lord.assuming is is he that is this with issue My with Bell is so in love attribute. only is God’s love a dating It’s like love. God that all he sees is God’s Bell’s big thing is that God is love, and that God loves that God loves and is that God is love, thing big Bell’s He quotes a lot of everyone. every about how verses that He will confess tongue and every knee shall bow he very much left it at a surface level, to his discredit left it at a surface level, much he very opinion. in my you to sin then cut it off, or you are back on the road on the are back or you to sin then cut it off, you not Bell would I am unsure why sacrifice.” to child of deeper into the meaning dived the word, but have stood into a flaming garbage pit, another image the pit, another image garbage stood into a flaming clearly in first have centuryJews Palestine would “If saying hand causes you Jesus is literally received. of and reformed of all Israel he toredown law the they where altars and turned the valley Molloch’s demon god that Israel often worshipped when they they when that Israel often worshipped demon god sac child demanded from Molloch God. away fell the book found rifice through Hezekiah fire; when What he doesn’t mention is that the valley ofWhat he doesn’t the valley mention is that Hin used to the altars also where to Molloch nom was stand. Ifa was he Molloch unfamiliar with you’re in first century Palestine would have understood. in first have century Palestine would 20 The Epistle of Maxwell to

canon • september the Headbangers at Tyndale Maxwell, a guardian of metal by the power of Shred. must increase our efforts in Christian circles to be To the few, isolated, misunderstood and persecuted more intentional about using art creatively and hon- headbangers at Tyndale. estly instead of ripping off what the secular bands Grace and pwnage be unto you from our hardcore were doing in the years which are now in the past. Lord of Metal. Between The Buried And Me have released “The Par- I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that you allax: Hypersleep Dialogues” and it’s three songs are are entering this place as wolves among hipsters. For as long as a full-length album; The Human Abstract you are in the midst of many who idolize grandpa’s have crafted “Digital Veil” and when I heard it my guitars, and tea, and Jon Foreman, and Mumford and hands quit guitar without consulting me; Inevitable the sons of Mumford. However, I would not have End have obliterated universes with their progressive you despair, but hang on the hope that was once hardcore album “The Oculus” so much that now I delivered to you: that the apocalypse of metal shall am afraid of my own face; Devin Townsend’s “De- be upon us at any hour and that we await with all construction” … The title track is about a cheese- eagerness and readiness to embrace the arrival of burger that has the secrets of the universe between the cold dawn of steel upon our land, whereby the its buns. I can’t sleep at night anymore. Pray for me, musical realm will be been subjected to the power of brothers, and pray that the china-cymbal riding the Shred and whence folk has been redeemed by its powers of August Burns Red will protect us all. combination and synthesis with metal, and by which all the nations of the earth shall be made glad with My brothers, I have loved you with a love that burns rage in the kingdoms of pwnsauce into all the ages hotter than the wings I had last night. I forbid any of the blackened, deathgrinding, breakdown-laden, woman from wearing large hoop earrings in the pummel-festival in which we all windmill our hair moshpit. and pick up pennies. Amen. Therefore brothers, look with great anticipation to Circle pit for eternity. Amen. the coming of the new Oh, Sleeper album, which is called “Children of Fire”. The day of its release is September 27th in the Year of Lord, 2011. No one knows the hour, not even Harold Camping. Also be aware that Hope For The Dying has brought about a great work of Christian neo-classical, progressive, orchestral, tech-metal in the form of their album “Dissimulation”. Becoming The Archetype have achieved “Celestial Completion” and have therefore brought Christian progressive metal into the realm of levitating resurrection light explosions in the eter- nal sky of hope and wonder. The people will hear it and bang their heads against the wall with gladness and great joy. Dear brothers, I regret to tell you that the secular realm of metal has again surpassed us in innovation, creativity, skill, and musicianship again this year. We • canon • september | poem • Crimson Drops • Spencer Thomas 21 He’d rise again through empty grave through empty grave rise again He’d us through the price He paid. And save Through crimson drops Christ Jesus paid a debt repaid. For all our sins, hell, Through crimson drops a living will. loving Saviour’s Redeemed by He bore crimson drops until will. final He died and finished Father’s did to Him we not what knew We win. But it is finished and we and hand and nail and spear For whip crimson dropsDrew fear, and human through empty grave rise again He’d us through the price He paid. And save Through drops crimson Christ Jesus paid a debt repaid. For all our sins, hell, Through crimson drops a living will. loving Saviour’s Redeemed by He bore crimson drops until final will. He died and finished Father’s did to Him we not what knew We win. But it is finished and we and hand and nail and spear For whip crimson dropsDrew and human fear, Laden with a wooden tree Laden with a wooden He bore me. those crimson drops for Throughout till cities edge town the Then ledge. bore cross the to highest lo! They nailed Him there; Golgotha tree our sins to bear. To wooden Was not to be from Pilots will. Was raged who to the crowd Then given They bore him off paid. price yet for A weak man cleans his hands and frowns. his hands and frowns. man cleans A weak crimson drop that fell new Each As tears of down crimson trickled pierced;From now brow crown mocking With The haters cried with hating screams, screams, The haters with hating cried Their hearts on his death it seemed. set Take their share from that mans back. their shareTake from that mans back. been he’d Then brought though flogged forth The crimson drops his back run down and; tails scratch As a cat with a dozen Which kept a blameless man at loss a blameless man kept Which man; evil And traded Him for the land. Barabbas freed to scourge Though blameless for which held at large. held Though which blameless for silence cost,For all our sins that Before all hatredBefore there the charge; He stood and took Accepting death for all our lives. for death Accepting HimselfThen turned and gave to them Him. brooded over Whose anger He knelt and cried out fromHe knelt the heart. Tears of crimson from His eyes In garden under veil of under veil In garden dark canon • september • 22 • canon • september 23