I’m just beginning to catch my breath after a whirlwind summer. In June we were able to visit family “up north” in New Liskeard and Timmins for a pair of weeks. July found us house-sitting for friends in the Bayview & 401 area, which was thoroughly enjoyable – among other things, it gave us enough room to invite our “friends who have childrens” over, which of course was a delight. The first weekend of August was, progressively, my brother-in-law’s wedding, our FIRST ANNIVERSARY (hooray!), a great day at the beach with Steph’s extended family, and – moving into the following week – a trip down to Ohio to visit old friends. The last couple weeks have included time up on Baptiste Lake near Bancroft cottaging with my family (as well as my honourary brother Shane) as well as, this past week, a stint of freelance writing, editing, and layout for a great family-run business in Mississauga.

In other words, I’ve been “busy”. Hopefully that fleshes it out a bit.

Of course, I haven’t been resting on my laurels much in terms of things I’d like to be writing about, either. That said, I do have a disturbing habit of falling short on my own hopes and intentions for this space – promises to myself I don’t seem to keep. My friend Todd recently captured some of the dynamics involved (and helpful), in this post.

So, there’s not a dearth of profundity to be found here today. Just a random mishmash of words that have been bouncing around my noggin of late. Words like Church, Marriage, Ecclesiology, Authority, Covenant, Hebrews, Galatians, Titus, Thrice, Beggars, Project 86, Emery, Review, and a host of others. We’ll see what comes of it all.

Galatians 5:22-26 ESV

So I was just looking at my calendar. The last couple weeks have been insano-crazy. In the busy sense, of course.

How so? I recently graduated from Trent University (BA Joint Hons. in Philosophy and English), I’ve already attended my first pool party of the summer, worked my first-ever 12-hour shift, been to more than one Barbecue, and all this week I’ve been hard at work doing landscaping – resulting in some serious suntan and muscle-mass growth.

The summer is shaping up to be quite exciting, with two wedding to attend, trips up north (one to Timmins & New Liskeard, one to Baptiste Lake), a first-anniversary getaway weekend, DVBS at Harvest, and quite literally “God knows what else”. I’m excited.

That’s it for now. This is your irregularly scheduled update.

We left home a week ago and haven’t been back since. Peterborough, New Liskeard, South Porcupine (in Timmins), and later we’ll be in Englehart – all before returning to precious Pickering. It’s been quite a whirlwind tour.

That being said, it’s been full of adventure, conversation, and warm memories which will be treasured all year long.

I have made a few “new year’s revolutions” this morning and although it’s ne’er been my custom to do so (I prefer “new day’s resolutions” on the regular to an annual event), these are more of a compilation of those ‘new day’ items:

I’ve kept it short, I’m just as apt to do nothing if an action list seems impossibly large as anyone else would be.

1. Set up a dual-boot of Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux (Intrepid Ibex version).
2. Complete my professional portfolio and accompanying website prior to graduation.
3. Devote time to daily writing, whether it be a blog, a review, or just adding to current progress on my ‘book’.
4. Read at least a book a month.

There are more, however these “more” delve into the realms of intricate complexity too deep and profound to explicate upon in this hallowed place. In other words, I’m keeping them to myself.

Here’s some things I’m thankful for from 2008 gone by:
1. Marriage, to Steph. It’s pretty much the best thing on God’s green earth.
2. Wonderful in-laws, which I’ve been enjoying throughout the year.
3. A hacked Nintendo Wii full of Homebrew applications and joy.
4. The chance to try out and enjoy the recent WoW beta (for WotLK) and spend some time with old friends from the guild.
5. For such great friends to have stand with me on my wedding day (Noah, Todd, Mark, Al, Ian, Shane) – much love, guys.
6. Terabyte hard drives, even though I don’t yet own one.
7. Getting paid to sleep for the entire fall.
8. A renewed enjoyment of composition as well as quality reading (I believe I read around 20 books this year, give or take).
9. Only 12 weeks of classes and about 3 exams left until being DONE with full-time school.
10. An amazing almost-full-time contract in Peterborough during the months leading up to the wedding.
11. A lot of really great music that came out this year.
12. A lot of really great sermons that I had the privilege of enjoying over the course of the year, both via the internet (ie. Driscoll, Piper, Harris, Mahaney, etc) or via Sunday Mornings (at Harvest York Region, c/o Whittingstall).
13. Good, quality cordless phones. I don’t think I’ll ever look back to corded again… particularly when I throw on that speakerphone and it feels like I’m sitting across from whoever it is I’ve called.
14. The fall LAN party thrown by my little brothers at my parents place – such a fun time.
15. The ESV Study Bible, even though I haven’t gotten mine yet.
16. Great Boxing Day sales – once again, it was worth hardly buying anything all year in order to frugally save a load of cash on some necessities (loot: new keys and mouse, colour laser printer, office07).
17. Living closer to sweet concerts.
18. Coffee mornings with my dad in the fall on my way to classes in Peterpatch.
19. Free Toronto Stars at DC/UOIT Student Commons.
20. The soon-coming TF2 Scout Pack.
21. Harvest Bible Chapel, York Region – I can’t even begin to numerate the blessing that it’s been to fellowship in a place with timeless truth and timely methods.
22. Our Tuesday night small group study in “Lord, Change my Attitude” – profitable not only due to the content but also the community/fellowship, accountability, and growth that we’ve been privileged to be a part of. Particularly, I’m thankful for the wisdom and insight provided us by virtue of the amazing friends who participate with us in it – it has truly been one of the highlight blessings of the year.
23. Paper extensions.
24. Snowstorms.
25. Ice Hockey for the NES.

And now, some far less meaningful lists:

Currently reading:
“Christianity’s Dangerous Idea” by Alister McGrath
“The Master’s Plan for the Church” by John MacArthur
“The Murder of Jesus” by John MacArthur
“Wordliness” by CJ Mahaney
“Through Painted Deserts” by Donald Miller

Hoping to read this year:
ESV Study Bible
“Vintage Church” by Mark Driscoll
“Death By Love” by Mark Driscoll
“This Momentary Marriage” by John Piper
“The Cross-Centered Life” by CJ Mahaney
“Humility: True Greatness” by CJ Mahaney
“The End Of Reason” by Ravi Zacharias

Currently listening to:
“Black-Listed Sessions” by Mars Ill
“Slow Flame” by Mars Ill
“Deepspace5oul” by Deepspace 5
“Bake Sale” by Deepspace 5

Looking forward to hearing this year:
“The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be” by Deepspace 5
new mewithoutYou
new Project 86
new As Cities burn
new Mars Ill

Currently playing:
DotA AllStars
Team Fortress 2
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Looking forward to playing this year:
World of Goo
Sins of a Solar Empire
Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People (Season 1)
Braid
No More Heroes

Hoping to see released this year:
Starcraft 2

Anyways, having now ranted endlessly in list form, I wish you all the best in 2009 and look forward to saturating your blog-reader-eyes with a glut of posts ne’er before seen. Or not. Either way, it’s going to be a crazy ride – even if I am pants-on-head-insane.

I’m sorry it’s been so long. It’s been a potent mix of working almost every day, trying to get our wedding invitations all done (which means a lot of guest list culling and cropping and such), reading books, listening to some really “whickedsick” tunes, and tossing around some TF2 to stay sane.

A potent mixture that has meant not much writing. I have a couple album reviews to finish ASAP. And by ASAP I mean “should have already been done a week ago”. Hopefully one will be up later today.

Speaking of today, we head up “capital-N” North for our last bout of Premarital Counselling, our first wedding shower, and quality time with fams. And a lot of driving and thus paying a buck and a quarter for a litre of gas, on regular occasion. Not looking forward to the driving or the pumping gas, but the outcome is pretty bliss.

I’m weary – haven’t had enough sleep in awhile. Not getting enough tonight either – can’t sleep. Too wired.

1. Not Even A Hint by Joshua Harris
(which has since been retitled Sex Isn’t The Problem, Lust Is, and is easily right up there with Arterburn’s “Every Man’s Battle” for books on the subject of battling lust).

2. Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
(which is so, so good. I <3>

3. Secret Believers by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen
(which I’ve really only read the preface and first chapter for, but it looks excellent).

In other news, T-minus eighty-five days remaining. I get more excited about it every day, by my estimations.

Hopefully, I’ll have much more to say soon. If not, know that I am busy being diligent and preparatory.

<3

Pictured is Durn. Weilding “Jin’Rokh, The Great Apocalypse”. Now at rest.

3 / 4

One to go.

Commentary: It feels so good to be done. Third year was difficult – not necessarily in terms of the content studied. Difficult in every way but scholastically, and so academics were thus rendered difficult as well. I feel like I’ve been stretched every way possible, and yet I know this is just the tiny, visible peak of a monstrous iceberg.

This year is significant for many reasons, but few of them relate to school. This year marked the beginning of my first real relationship in ~4 years. Real, in this case, meaning “she is actually, in fact, interested and reciprocal; capable of making her mind up and being clear about it”. I apologize if the previous sentence comes off as bitter, as I’m not much bitter anymore, just glad to not be tired in the same way I was when that sort of thing bothered me (ie. right before meeting Steph). To add encouragement to healing, I found myself engaged shortly thereafter to someone I oft refer to as “Miss MyUniverse”, among many other things. I freely admit my human propensity towards bias and preference and subjectivity, but I honestly and holistically would submit my Fiancee as the best woman in all chronology, geography, and my unchanging opinion. Bar none. If you disagree, I will fight you and your ignorance (gently).

Consequential to these remarkable and unexpected developments, focusing on academics has often been the last thing on my mind this year – and my marks will likely show the proof. I do expect to pass everything (some by the skins of their teeth), for which I am thankful and admittedly quite surprised in a couple of cases. Papers and topics for them filled my head throughout the year, and I feel some of my best writing ever was done – and some of the most mediocre as well. I discovered I rather dislike open-ended English essays, and rather love open-ended Philosophy essays. I nurtured a growing passion for poetry (which hasn’t really manifested itself in much writing for my poetry blog as of yet, but I’m sure it will come. Finally, I took to calling myself a “Philosophy and English joint major” where before I had called myself an “English and Philosophy joint major”. The reasoning is simple: I get excited about Philosophy. Almost always. English Literature, (especially the historical, remembering names and junk stuff) not so much.

Without further ado:

Annual Thirty “Best” Things of 0708 school year:
[IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]
01. Going with Al & Shane & Gord to Barrie to commit random high-jinks.
02. Doing 2v2 Arenas with my friend “Serida” in the Fall (August-November ’07).
03. Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii – a more ‘epic win’ could not be conceived.
04. Getting myself into a real, honest-to-goodness relationship with someone-awesome.
05. Getting engaged to that same someone-awesome.
06. Thursday nights studying Colossians here at the house with my TCF small group.
07. Playing Dustin Kensrue’s “Blanket of Ghosts” with Todd at TCF Coffee House in honour of Robert Jordan. RIP.
08. Five months of unemployment (which was, simultaneously among the worst things).
09. No classes on Thursdays.
10. Getting both of my characters in WoW to level 70.
11. Quitting World of Warcraft in December. Again. For good this time. (It’s even uninstalled.)
12. Regular weekends in Toronto visiting Steph and so many other friends.
13. Trips way up North (South Porcupine) for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Premarital Counselling Round 1.
14. Mondays hanging out with Todd, talkin’ life.
15. Early Modern Philosophy with M. Neumann, and, more importantly, T. Anderson.
16. Acquiring a second family. /wave
17. TCF Retreats Fall & Winter.
18. Our new boarder – my friend Shane!
19. Finding my old green toque. Wearing it.
20. Walking the pooch (Nuka) late at night during warmer months.
21. Dangerous prayers.
22. Installing Covenant Eyes. Reaping the benefits.
23. Opening a PC Financial account. So. Good.
24. Studying Metaphysics, Epistemology, and 20th Century Continental Philosophy.
25. Joining up as a staff writer for The Phantom Tollbooth.
26. Not getting Windows Vista, a Mac, an iPod, a metal water bottle, a blackberry, etc. XP really is better…
27. Playing Team Fortress 2 and DotA with my brothers, friends, and enemies.
28. Having a sweet, sweet beard. Getting rid of a sweet, sweet beard.
29. Renos on my room being finished after a decade in limbo.
30. Stephanie.

Sleep soundly in silence
Knowing that we will never return
To what we once were
What was now is a distant memory
I guess that I should thank you
For freeing me from my naivety
-Project 86 “Breakdown in 3/4″

Annual Ten Most Important “New-To-Me” Records of 0708 school year:
[IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]
01. Sev & Dust – “Back To Dust”
02. Thrice – “The Alchemy Index”
03. Project 86 – “Rival Factions”
04. As Cities Burn – “Come Now Sleep”
05. Matthew Good – “Hospital Music”
06. He Is Legend – “Suck Out The Poison”
07. Dashboard Confessional – “The Shade Of Poison Trees”
08. Lovedrug – “Everything Starts Where It Ends”
09. August Burns Red – “Messengers”
10. Oh, Sleeper – “When I Am God”

This is the sound that drives you to deny
These are the words that remind you we’re alive
This is the voice that haunts you in your sleep
Outdated, forgotten, we’re yesterday’s obsolete
-Project 86 “Breakdown in 3/4″

And my general plan now… is to rest. And work my (posterior) off. And contribute more than my share of the wedding planning. And have phun with friends. And read books I want to. And write lots of music reviews. And blog posts. And and and… get married.

Yes.