Love Is Moving Issue 19 - JAN/FEB 2017 by Love Is Moving

ISSUE 19

CANADA’S CHRISTIAN YOUTH MAGAZINE

JAN/FEB 2017

MUSIC REVIEW

TRINITY FASHION

Darcy Rumble p. 4

Nadine Agyei p. 10

LOVING LOVE SONGS Jamila Holder p. 21

Featuring

Matt

Falk

“Matt Falk is a freakin’ hilarious comedian” -Spectator Tribune

“One of the

freshest,

quickest, high-energy, comics that I have seen.”

-Leland Klassen

“Effortlessly funny” -CBC

“Rollicking fun” -Star Phoenix

A NEW YEAR IS HERE Brittany Pettinger p. 27

Contents

Making the Most of Your Single Life

Joining God in our Neighbourhoods

16 FEATURE Comedian Matt Falk

Keeping Up with the

10 Trinity Fashion

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21 Reconciliation

New Year 27

WORDS FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to 2017! This time of year is always exciting. It’s a great opportunity to change old habits, cross off items on our to-do lists, and start new adventures. This issue of LIM is particularly exciting because it marks one year since the mag went beyond online into print last January. Over the last year, we’ve had many of you submit writing, poetry and artistic material, which has influenced many young people. You’ve helped with our mission to unite young Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus. We want to encourage you to continue to submit material for a chance to be featured in one of our issues. We believe we all have a story to tell, and it’s important to learn from each other how to demonstrate God’s love in our homes, communities, and country. We have all been given gifts and talents that have the power to influence both believers and non-believers in our everyday life. In this issue, you’ll find a variety of topics exploring things like depression, the difference between courting and dating, Aboriginal issues, Family Day suggestions, the truth behind Valentine’s Day, and various teen and youth conferences you can attend in different parts of the country. Take a look at the articles and let us know which you liked and which hit home. Or if an article pushed your buttons in the wrong way, we want to hear that too. If you would like to write a response or challenge one of our written articles, send us an email and we’ll consider it for publication. If you are a writer, poet, or artist and would like to explore your artistic side this New Year, write us for a chance to have your work featured as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

ART DIRECTOR MARK STEWART

SENIOR EDITOR CRILEIDY LIRIANO

EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER BENJAMIN PORTER

EDITOR IN CHIEF & FOUNDER JOEL GORDON

Crileidy Liriano Senior Editor, LIM

Jakob Owens

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2017 Jan Feb IFMC Love in Action Ad_2017 Jan F

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I NTERNATIONAL F ELLOWSHIP OF M ISSIONS C ONFERENCES

from Jer Ibrahim Jeremy Ibrahim (Jer) is your typical hipster Christian. He is mostly on the ball about ethical consumerism but sometimes his hipster ideals clash with the style of life God is calling him to. He wants to be a youth pastor and plays guitar. Jeremy (Jer) Ibrahim is a fictional character created by Jeff Baker, a regular LIM comic artist contributor.

FRIDAY NIGHT YOUTH CONCERT

February 3rd, 2017

Immanuel Pentecostal Church

don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that I am the next David Crowder. I mean, just look at me. I already have a huge beard, I wear exclusively plaid shirts, and I have mad guitar skills. Not only do I know how to play the chords C, G and D, but I recently learned Em also. So, when I say that I am an authority on worship, you know it’s true. I have, in the past, often been blinded to the purpose of true worship. I have, on occasion, made God the secondary focus of my worship time. This is what Satan wants. Satan (who, it turns out is a cat. Go figure, right? Kind of makes sense though) wants to distract you from praising God. He knows he can’t be so blatant as to demand your worship for himself, so he tricks us into believing the same lie that he made himself to believe: that we are equally deserving of our worship as God is. This has come out of me in the past, sometimes in the lyrics I write, or in my expectations of how the congregation is responding to me or the music. But what if worship didn’t actually have anything to do with music, or even church? Bear with me, in

855 Wilkes Ave., Winnipeg

Featuring:

T H E CO LO R Romans 12:1 it says: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” It doesn’t actually even mention music, or church. Paul is calling us to daily sacrifice ourselves to the advancement of the gospel. Worship isn’t so much about the heart I bring to sing with on Sunday morning, as it is the care of that heart through the week. We can only achieve the level of true and proper worship when we are serving God, in community with each other. My goal in life has always been to be a great worship leader, but that’s changed. My goal now is to be a great worshipper, to show people how to lay themselves down outside of a musical setting so that, when we do gather for music, we can approach the throne of grace in confidence, leaving ourselves at the door, so that we can become nothing, and He can become our all.

With a Life-Changing Message by

T O M Z U R OW S K I www.missionfestmanitoba.org

YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT ACTIVITIES

February 24 - 26, 2017

West Edmonton Christian Assembly 6315 - 199 St., Edmonton

FRIDAY NIGHT: “Missions Adventure” & Y/YA Night with Danny MacKay

SATURDAY NIGHT: Resurgence with Yaw Perbi ALL WEEKEND: Y/YA Sessions, Seminars, Exhibit Hall, Assemblies, Missions Search Centre & much more... www.mfest.ab.ca IFMC Members:

Jesus to the Nations (Halifax) M i s s i o n F e s t To r o n t o Missionfest Manitoba (Winnipeg) Missions Fest Alberta (Edmonton) Mission Vision (Fort St. John, BC)

www.missionsfellowship.org

BY JOSH LEWIS 4 LOVEMOVEMENT.CA

Parental Leave We were buried here together When you and I were young Down in the noisy dark beneath Where our barefoot children play In the grass above our heads. One day when their faces Are no longer round and smooth They will leave the grassy place That our bodies grew for them To go we know not where. And when the sounds above have ceased We will emerge, blinking in the sun. Not them the busy world forgot But something new, and old, and just As changed as our children. You will brush the dirt from my white hair I will clean the soil from The smiling creases of your face And we’ll go together, hand in hand Into the life that comes after life.

What is “Parental Leave” about? “Parental Leave” is a riff on John 12:24 when Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” It’s about how the secret to a good, real life is to surrender and die to yourself – your own hopes and dreams – and let God do His thing. Having kids is just one of an infinite number of ways we are called to die to ourselves, but it’s one that God has used to teach me this lesson.

Mike Bonikowsky Melancthon, ON Strangest habit? When alone, he will often narrate (out loud) the events of the recent past as a way of sorting through what’s going on in his life– sort of like verbal journaling.

Alexandru Zdrobau

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Making the Most Of Your Single Life Have you ever wondered if there’s something you’ve done wrong and that’s why you’re single? Have you had any doubts that you’ll ever date seriously or get married? While singleness at times can be lonely, does this mean it’s ok to zone out on YouTube every night or that you can live any way that you want to?

(Romans 8:35). Shall singleness? “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Nothing – certainly not our relationship status – can keep us from receiving and fulfilling all that God has become for us in Jesus. His favour already rests on you. His Word will lead you, and His grace is able to sustain you. Yes, even single you. Hang on to His Word and His truths that say His ways are higher than your ways (Isaiah 55:9). Hang on to the great hope in the true and loving God who says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

thinking, “I should be dating” or “I should be married by now,” it’s easy to compare ourselves to others. But God created each of us uniquely and has given us gifts in order to touch other people’s lives. When God called Moses to speak to Pharaoh about releasing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He asked Moses to use what was already in his hand: his staff. He didn’t ask Moses to use something he didn’t have. What’s in your hand? What are your strengths? What are the gifts that God has given you that you could use today to bless somebody? What can you do to make the most of your single life?

God created each of us uniquely and has given us gifts in order to touch other people’s lives.

God has a plan and a purpose for each life, and believers are called to trust He will keep His promises. We’re called to make the most out of every situation, trusting God’s at work.

We want our lives to be full and fruitful and we want to experience all God has made and given us as much as possible. We want our experience in this short life to really count for His glory and the good of others.

What can separate us from the love of God? “Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Too often, we’ve made dating or marriage a qualification for happiness and feeling valuable and significant. When we get to

Candace Maxymowich Winnipeg, MB Strangest habit? Saying “Wed-nes-day” phonetically to help spell it. Alexandru Zdrobau

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Music

Review

ARTIST

MATTHEW PARKER ALBUM

ADVENTURE RECORD LABEL

DROM

FOR FANS OF

TOBY MAC CAPITAL KINGS DAVID THULIN WE ARE LEO

atthew Parker is a twenty-something producer and musician who grew up in Michigan and has been writing and releasing his own music since 2006. He once said his 2014 album Shadowlands, was his “best album to date,” but his latest album, Adventure, released in October 2016, takes his craft to a whole new level. Parker’s music is a blend of pop, EDM, and dubstep that will please fans of Owl City, Gawvi, Rapture Ruckus, and Hillsong Young & Free.

The title track “Adventure” opens the album with a catchy electro-pop that first-time Matthew Parker listeners will quickly be drawn into. Parker freely moves between the cool modern industrial sound of “System Victim” to the EDM-filled “Unstoppable” and lots of other musical camps in between. “My Love” is probably the closest of the bunch to Owl City, while “Tidal Wave” takes the deepest dive into dubstep.

Adventure could easily be the album to get He does work with much more than just the whole crowd moving, or the perfect electronic beats, though, includAdventure is a fun and upbeat album full of joyful ing piano here and there, some Kingdom-minded living, encouraging adventure, strings, and even trumpet in perseverance through the good and bad, and God’s “Remember Me.” overwhelming love. During a short trumpet in that song he says, “Yeah, fake trumpet take it background soundtrack to chill out with. away!” Clearly he is having a great time and Lyrically, Adventure is a fun and upbeat loves sharing that fun with the listener. album full of joyful Kingdom-minded Parker features several guest artists including Rapture Ruckus and Twilight Meadow. Some guests bring their killer (amazing) hip-hop skills to the table to take these songs to the next level. A perfect example is “Dynasty” with Cash Hollistah. This track is a dramatic, cinematic piece that sounds like an epic movie soundtrack mashed with dubstep.

living, encouraging adventure, perseverance through the good and bad, and God’s overwhelming love. Even in songs where the lyrics lean more towards loss or sadness such as “Down in Flames,” the music remains pumping and fun. For some, 15 songs may be just a bit too lengthy, but those who are into electronica,

EDM, and danceable pop music will soak it right up. Adventure has so many good songs back to back that you’re guaranteed it’s not one of those albums where you find yourself skipping around to get to the “good songs.” Parker’s sound blend might be a bit too upbeat and overwhelming for some who would desire a bit more musical diversity. However, his latest album surpasses much of what similar artists are producing, and Adventure can easily compete with any of today’s modern pop music. Rating: 3.5/5

Darcy Rumble Uxbridge, ON

Strangest habit? Ever since he was a little kid, he always turns around the tab on his pop can and drinks through the hole in the tab. He’s been doing it as long as he can remember! DROM

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The Blessing of Alone-Time

absolutely love how girls go to the restroom in groups.

“Jess, I have to use the restroom, you?” “Yeah, I’ll come with you, how about you, Lindsey?” “Not really, but I’ll come anyway.” Before long there is a pack of 15 girls who have left the guys to make awkward small talk with each other and count the minutes until the females return (or at least that’s what I’m assuming they do).

abundantly clear that (despite what we may think) we need others. Nevertheless, in order to be a life-giving member of this community you must understand yourself separately. How? Do something alone. And before you suggest it, locking yourself up in your room and binge-watching Netflix doesn’t count. Actually do something. Dine out by yourself. Wander. Find a place beyond your bedroom that brings you comfort. Learn your true likes and dislikes, understand your inclinations and amaze yourself with what you are capable of. Learn who you are without being defined by other people.

Learn who you are without being defined by other people.

Now guys, I won’t tell you exactly what happens in there, because I enjoy keeping you in suspense, but I will let you know that it is just a glimpse at the sisterhood girls share. Females are dynamic creatures who – when united – are the most unstoppable force of strength, elegance and intellect the world has ever seen.

And yet, despite the power we possess together we must also learn how to stand on our own. I’m not saying we must learn to be alone, rather, we must learn how to be alone. Humans were not created to exist alone but rather in constant community; firstly with our Creator, and secondly with those around us. Scripture makes it

individual identity, I could better contribute to the collective identity that comes with being children of God. I challenge you to strive to enjoy solitude, for it is a beautiful state once actually achieved. Let the presence of the Creator and your own identity colour the spaces between your bones until you are sturdy and shining with assurance.

In doing so, you will discover that not only do you understand yourself better, but you like yourself more. I’ve had people ask me why I enjoy spending so much time alone and I thought, “Well why wouldn’t I? I’m a riot!” Oddly enough, the more I was alone (the right way) the better I was with other people. I spoke with greater confidence, I showed a more genuine interest in others, and I stopped laughing at things I didn’t find funny. Anchored securely in my

Katrina Martin Toronto, ON (Currently in Thailand) Strangest habit? When she watches movies, she tilts her head and watches it out of the corner of her eye! Filippo Ascione

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Joining God in our Neighbourhoods

hink of all the places you go in the course of a regular week, all the places you live, work, study and play. Do you see evidence of God at work in those places and in the people you meet? We know God is at work everyday, everywhere. Those are the kind of ideas that inspired Neighbouring Month across Atlantic Canada, a challenge to churches, groups and individuals to join God in their neighbourhoods during the month of October. Let me share some of the results. Churches, kids’ ministries, youth groups and individuals joined in the daily challenges to open their senses to God’s work around them. Each day of the week went by a different theme – Hear, See, Touch/Serve, Smell, Taste, Holy Spirit and Rest. The Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada Youth and Family Team, started this initiative, but it was the people that brought Neighbouring Month to life. Stories were shared using #1neighbourhood on social media. Throughout the month we heard great stories: •

Treats and thank you’s were shared with teachers, police officers, firefighters and volunteers

•

Meals and conversations were shared with newcomers to Canada

•

Garbage was picked up around neighbourhoods

•

Encouraging notes were sent to co-workers, neighbours and friends

•

Leaves were raked

•

Food was harvested from gardens for food banks

•

Non-perishable food was collected for food banks

Some youth groups got together and held a rally to talk about and celebrate Neighbouring Month People got to know their neighbours!

Kids, youth, young adults, adults, seniors and whole churches from across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland participated in the activities throughout the month

You can join the challenge! Organizers are now turning Neighbouring Month into a 31-day challenge you can do at any time with your church or group. Share your stories using #1neighbourhood.

Families read the daily challenges together at the breakfast table

The 31-day includes challenges, four devotionals for the month and a promo video that can be found at cbacyf.ca/1month.

We heard a story of a neighbours who a family was praying for during the month suddenly showing up on the family’s doorstep

Renée Embree is the director of youth and family ministries for the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (cbacyf.ca) and the director of the youth and young adult ministry program at Acadia Divinity College (acadiadiv.ca). She loves to see how younger generations are changing neighbourhoods, schools and churches with the Good News.

Will you join God in your neighbourhoods?

Renee Embree St. Johns, NB Strangest habit? Wearing slippers around the office – even in fancy meetings. Artur Pokusin

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Trinity Fashion “You are way too tall! Oh, and your skin is undesirably dark! Girl, you need to put the fork down because you are blowing up! You know what, forget it, it’s hopeless. Your best efforts will never be enough to make you b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. When reading this you must be thinking, Those are some pretty harsh words. I agree, but for almost 14 years of my life this was the soundtrack on repeat in the opaque dome that I referred to as My Mind. All I

wanted to do was fit in, look like everyone else and dress like everyone else. But how could I? After all, my physique outgrew the trends of my age group. Woe was life. I have always been of a heavier, curvaceous stature – and I was not always accepting of it. When you are constantly taunted and ridiculed for your size, it becomes hard to remain in high spirits about your self-image. The worst moments were going to the mall to buy clothes. After hours of searching, I ended up leaving empty handed. Why? Because nothing fit, which further proved I did not fit in! But there comes a moment when you decide enough is enough. You finally hit the bottom of what seemed to be a bottomless pit. When that day finally arrived for me, I was sick and tired of despising myself. And for the first time Psalm 139:14-16 made sense. “… fearfully and wonderfully made… your works are wonderful; Your eyes saw my unformed body”. This was my eureka, my light bulb, my breakthrough moment. All along, I thought fashion was a way to fit in and be like everyone else; but eventually I learned otherwise. Fashion is a self-expression that personifies the beauty within. It’s a metaphor of your perspective of life. I’ll go as far as saying that fashion can highlight one of God’s greatest abilities, and that is to create. When I finally came to a place of loving myself for exactly who God created me to be, fashion became much more meaningful. The ideologies behind why I put outfits together were no longer a way to hide my

Love Yourself! 10 LOVEMOVEMENT.CA

I stopped using clothes to hide myself – I used them to uncover the essence of who God has made me to be.

flawed image of what I thought I should look like. In other words, I stopped using clothes to hide myself – I used them to uncover the essence of who God has made me to be.

The ability to love yourself for exactly who you are is a prophetic statement of your potential to love others. Remember God is not a vain God. Everything He does is purpose-driven, including creating us the way we are. Yes, we are each responsible

to care for the health of our body, but whatever our size or state of health, He loves each one. Yes, you can be any size and still be a fashion influencer. After all, weight is nothing but a number!

Nadine Agyei Brampton, ON Strangest habit? All doors (closet, bathroom, and bedroom) in her room must be closed in order for her to fall asleep. If she dozes off, she will wake up and close them.

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10 THINGS TO DO ON FAMILY DAY

t’s that time of the year again! A time for appreciating and spending time with those you love. Nope, not Valentine’s Day - Family Day! It’s a day family members can come together and show appreciation for each other. If you’re the offspring, and not the parent, that doesn’t mean you can’t arrive at Family Day with a few great activity ideas. Now let’s be real, planning something that everyone can enjoy is not always easy, so here are 10 things you can do to make your Family Day a successful one.

Eat out

Explore your city or town

And we mean way out! Pick a country on the map, find a restaurant that serves that food and go enjoy!

Pretend to be a tourist and take the time to enjoy the scenery. You will probably learn something new.

Get cooking

Pick a seemingly challenging recipe and have everyone participate. It can become your new family signature dish.

Outdoor skating

We’re in Canada, eh? Everyone loves a good falling story.

Visit a museum or art gallery Education on a holiday can be fun too.

Local Family Day event

Search activities going on in your community that the entire family can enjoy.

Have a photo-shoot

Pick a location and get snapping! Take turns being the photographer. Your Instagram followers will be thoroughly impressed.

Relax

Take advantage and rest as a family. There’s nothing wrong with staying in and enjoying each other’s company. Don’t limit yourself to only one item on the list. You have a whole day! Make it count! Make some unforgettable memories to last you and your loved ones a lifetime.

Watch a movie

Although Netflix is great, go to the movie theatre, get a bucket of buttery popcorn, an ice cold beverage, and let’s not forget the $4 pack of candy...come on, you know you want to go.

Create a family scrapbook

Ask everyone to bring a few favourite pictures of the past year and create a scrapbook from scratch together.

Jessica Crump Toronto, ON Strangest habit? Going to the mall or coffee shop with the sole purpose of watching people. Top down: Dan Gold, Matthew Henry, Terry Matthews, Rachael Crowe, Lloyd Dirks

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$2 Per Issue You can now enjoy a year of printed copies of Love Is Moving for only $2/ issue. Get your own one-year subscription at our new student rate of only $11.99/year (regular $29.99). Order online at FaithToday.ca/Subscriptions or call toll-free 1-866-302-3362. Your paid subscription gives you something tangible to pass along to a friend or a youth leader.

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Surviving University as a Christian

ake a moment to reflect and ask yourself: When was the last time I experienced Jesus? Was it asking God moments before an exam to give you knowledge to pass? Or was it sitting in church on Sunday morning after a night out that didn’t go so well asking for forgiveness? Life can get pretty crazy – it can be challenging and rewarding and everything in between. College and university life is no exception. It’s stressful, pressuring and sometimes feels like a completely different world. You may be a big studier or a big partier, but either way you’ll soon realize God is not always easy to find on campus. As a current university student I understand the struggle of finding friends who share similar beliefs as you or even respect you as a believer. On top of all that you have tons of assignments, exams, stress over finances and probably not enough sleep. It can feel impossible to manage, let alone fitting God into the mix. We often find ourselves putting God on the back burner in our lives. Whether it is to fit in, finish an assignment or just to cram for a test, God may be the last thing on our minds. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. There are millions of students struggling with the everyday pressures of 15 LOVEMOVEMENT.CA

campus life. A study by the Assemblies of God found that between 50 per cent and 66 per cent of young adults who attend a non-Christian university will leave the faith sometime in their four years after entering.

Since eleventh grade I have prayed that God would send me a friend to go to church with me. After over three years of praying for this, I finally got my answer. In the middle of 2016 I asked a friend on campus if she would go to church with me. I didn’t plan on asking, I didn’t practise what I was going to say, it simply came out in conversation and she accepted. Amazing! On that day on my university campus, God answered my prayer. What are you going to ask God to do on your campus this month?

I would love for you to join this journey with me. I want to hear about your experiences on campus and where you might be I refuse to be a part of this statistic. seeing God at work. Join the movement of spreading God’s love on campus by Are you ready to tackle this sharing your experiences with me on What are you together? I sure am. I definthe LIM Facebook page at Fb.com/ itely want God in my heart, going to ask JoinLoveMovement. We as Christians but even more I want to see all learn from each other’s God Him on campus spreading God to do on can moments, journeys and struggles. His love. God is working in our lives all the time, whether your campus I’m planning to share my experiences we see it or not. Sometimes I this month? and struggles about surviving university see God working on campus as a Christian over the next four years when I’m having a bad day here in this ongoing column. I’m excited and the soup special is vegetable noodle, my to share and to hear all about your stories. favourite. Something just silly like that can Now go spread some love on your campus! sure encourage me. “I have told you these things, so that in But in all seriousness, when I really see me you may have peace. In this world you God on campus is when I get an answer will have trouble. But take heart! I have to prayer. There are so many Christians in overcome the world” (John 16:33). this world who underestimate the power of prayer. We have a direct connection to talk with our Heavenly Father, the Creator of this universe, an almighty God!! Who wouldn’t want to have with the ear of the big guy upstairs? 1 Chronicles 16:11 says, “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek his face always.”

Abigail Morgan Grand Bay Westfield, NB Strangest habit? Probably the amount of squash she eats. Dayne Topkin

Comedian

Matt Falk Live, Love, Laugh... And Learn Your True Identity? Y

ou walk on the stage, lights go up, but where is the microphone? That’s just one of the outlandish moments of Matt Falk’s adventures as one of Canada’s top clean comedians. “I did a show in a basement for four people who were sitting on a couch,” he recalls. “I got up and talked in front of them. It was very weird, there was no separation. It was for a small company that just blew their entertainment budget on me standing up in front of them.” Falk, who is from Niverville, Man., has shared the stage with superstars like Rob Schneider (SNL, Adam Sandler movies), Gilbert Gottfried (Aladdin) and Dave Coulier (Full House). So, how did this proudly Mennonite kid from western Canada become a rising star on the comedy circuit? “The purpose of high school,” he says, “is to figure out what you are good at so you can do it for a career. When I was cracking jokes in math class and getting kicked out, I knew I wasn’t going to be a mathematician. I would get up and tell jokes in science class and was kicked out – I knew I wasn’t going to be a Scientologist. So, it dawned on me that maybe there is a career where I could crack jokes and get thrown out of places. Stand-up comedy!” But don’t most comedians use a lot of vulgar language in their routines? “The 16 LOVEMOVEMENT.CA

“You have to look into what God thinks about you. If you do not know what God thinks about you, you are missing out on something amazing.” world has taken the gift of humour that was created by God and has perverted it,” says Falk. “We need to bring it back to its original intention. Humour is meant to be pure and in line with God.” He’s making every effort to do his part in redeeming comedy. “Redeeming comedy is not making it some kind of lesser art form. It is bringing it back to its original and superior art form.” Many comedians will do anything to get ahead, to get a part on a sitcom or movie. Falk has a different goal – to live life day by day following God’s will. “I know He can use me wherever. I want to see what He has for me,” says Falk. He enjoys what he’s doing and laughingly shares that he may leave comedy if a job 17 LOVEMOVEMENT.CA

as a food critic would open up. “Mmmm these French fries are absolutely amazing from this small Scottish restaurant with the yellow arches, so good!”

What about church life – is there a place for humour there? Falk points to Proverbs 17:22 – a “cheerful heart is good medicine” and to Nehemiah 8:10 – “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” “We get freaked out that we will make God angry” by joking around, says Falk, “which can lead others to believe Christians are pious. If we think that God will be disappointed in us when we laugh or are having a good time, then we do not know our Father.” He finishes our interview with a challenge. “You have to look into what God thinks about you. If you do not know what God thinks about you, you are missing out on something amazing. If you think it is something scary, you are being lied to. Go

through the Bible and meditate on who God says you are. When we mess up, we beat ourselves up. When you fall, you can get up and say ‘Thank you God that this is not who you say I am.’ When you truly know that God loves you, it will change you forever. You will begin seeing others as God does, and you will begin to realize they need Jesus. It will move you to start loving others because you cannot stand for them to go another minute without knowing the truth that God loves them!” Falk’s service through comedy testifies to a refreshing approach of sharing God’s love. Check out MattFalkComedy.com to see when he is on a stage near you. Watch his routine “First World Problems” at youtu.be/ Zh0AnPr_fj8.

Benjamin Porter Editor in Chief & Founder

Thoughts and Reflections

down. If you had a bad year, I pray that you are given the strength to persevere and give your hardships to God. I pray that this year may be very fruitful for you. The Gospel of Luke includes instructions from Jesus about holding a luncheon and inviting friends, family and rich neighbours (Luke 14:12). Keep in mind that Jesus Himself is giving these instructions to a group that’s having a get together for

dinner at a Pharisees’ house – who is in a leadership position.

Give yourself a moment to reflect on the past year and celebrate successes and goals that were obtained, advances in knowledge and wisdom, or anything you may be thankful for.

What is being taught by Jesus here is that this type of kindness does not come from a charitable heart. Inviting friends, family and neighbours who may have plenty leaves room for a return invite. If we invite someone who is in need, then it’s to be expected that we will not get an invite to their place because they may have nothing to give.

n the spirit of the renewal of another year, let us pray and reflect that we will be renewed as well, as the Holy Spirit does His work in us.

Let’s give gratitude to God for another year on this earth, getting a chance to accomplish His will. Let’s also learn from our mistakes and not let bad times that may have happened over the last year get us

This passage is to remind us where our focus should be and not to neglect or forget strangers who may need our help.

A great example of this is Valentine’s Day. Where I grew up it was tradition for the students to exchange Valentine cards. I remember making cards with my mother and father and always wondering how many cards I might get in return from the other kids in class. This thinking is exactly what Jesus is warning us about. It’s a great opportunity to be humble and kind – giving with a cheerful heart not necessarily expecting anything in return.

So, this Valentine’s Day let’s not forget people who may be in the most need of a Valentine’s Day card, even if they are complete strangers. Everyone deserves to know that they are loved. We Christians have been commanded not to let the world forget this.

Shawn LaVie Mermaid, PEI Strangest habit? Playing with his beard while he is deep in thought, which usually means completely spaced out. Kristopher Roller

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Standing up for Jesus

hen the Apostle Paul tells us he is “not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16) we often conjure images from our modern Christian culture of us standing up against secular society, calling out our atheist teachers and professors, or declaring Christianity as the one true religion among a huge batch of options. While all of these examples have their time and place, we are missing something crucial in Paul’s meaning if we think standing up for Jesus is only about our arguments. For Paul, standing up for Jesus also means emptying ourselves of worldly desire, and identifying with those on the margins. Over and over again Paul references himself as a slave of Christ. He uses this language because in Rome there was nothing much lower than being a slave. Being a slave meant you had no status, no rights and no privilege in Roman society. This is the posture we need to take as Christians. Early Church writings show the self-emptying encouraged by Paul and Jesus was seen as an embarrassment to Rome but grew the Church like wildfire among the “foolish and low individuals, and persons devoid of perception, and slaves, and women, and children” (Contra Celsum, Origin). It is the broken and marginalized who are most likely to receive the gospel of Christ, and it’s these folks who we as Christians are called to embrace. Despite how it may make us look to our friends or family, we are called to reach out to those who are most aware of their failures and often least liked in society. Is there somebody at your school who is always getting in trouble and nobody really likes? Is there somebody you know who is disliked or lonely simply because they come from a different worldview or religion than your own? Is there a kid in your class that is seen as a trouble maker or simply annoying? These are the people Jesus hung out with. Jesus befriended tax collectors despite the fact that they were feared and hated. He befriended Roman soldiers despite the fact they had a very different religion and worldview than His own. And he befriended prostitutes despite their sexual sin. We are called to stand up for Jesus not simply as a call to argue for our faith, but in identifying with and acting out our love on those least valued by the world. Look out for these people in your life, proclaim the gospel of Christ’s love to them and with them, become the hands and feet of Jesus.

Jesse Hove Toronto, ON Strangest habit? He can’t read a book unless he has a pencil to underline and write comments in the margins. Veronika Balasyuk

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rowing up in a non-aboriginal family, my passion for aboriginal justice has always been there, but I never fully realized it until September 2013 when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission arrived in Vancouver. Since then I have taken a posture of learning as I lived in and did youth work with aboriginal communities, and completed an internship focused on aboriginal justice. I have come a long way since 2013, but I still have a lot to learn. This is not the full story, but a start to help you understand some of these issues a little bit.

Why youth should care about aboriginal issues and reconciliation

The relationship between the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada and non-aboriginal Canadians (represented by the Canadian government) is unique. It is grounded in treaties (various agreements), many which go back centuries, and continue to be valid today.

These agreements are promises to one another directing how the relationship is to be carried out. Sadly, Canada still has not followed through with many of its promises. Even some government representatives present at treaty negotiations voice Canada’s failure to implement “the spirit of the treaties,” a statement that rings true today. A good indicator of this reality is our education system. Knowing our shared history can aid us in fulfilling these past promises. Unfortunately, our education is failing us. Education about aboriginal residential schools for example are still not mandatory in many schools. I didn’t know about residential schools until a grade 12 elective course. How did the education system fail me so profoundly? This failure indicates to me that there is much more work to be done to repair our aboriginal-non-aboriginal relationship and fulfill the promises that were made many years ago. Even though aboriginal people continue to be hurt by this reality, I am always impressed that they are willing to repair the relationship. After the proposed First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act failed to be implemented in 2014 due to a lack of consultation by the government from the aboriginal perspective, many aboriginals were willing to have further dialogue to find a solution, but the government refused. Aboriginal people do not want our guilt; they want to build a relationship with the non-aboriginal People of Canada with a respectful future and right the wrongs of the past. I have experienced this in my many interactions with aboriginals. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbours as ourselves. This means that any grievance another has should matter to us. Although I care about aboriginal issues because of past promises we inherited, my first reason for caring comes from a desire to follow God. Having these promises legally grounded is helpful, but my faith in God moved me to care before any legal knowledge. Aboriginal people are our neighbours; let’s care about them, love them, and build on the relationship we have had with them for centuries.

Jordan Weller Langley, BC Strangest habit? Being able to read and write in Aurebesh - the Star Wars written language you see in all their movies and TV shows. Jonathan Denney

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Why I am so in love with love songs

ove is in the air! Some will inhale its aroma, while others hold their breaths. Teddy bears, roses and chocolate season is back. Every radio station is playing the hottest love songs, from the classic Whitney Houston to contemporary Adele. It appears every DJ in town has synchronized their playlist to ensure we’ll be unable to escape swaying to the catchy melodies.

Lately I find myself singing at the top of my lungs Tori Kelly’s “Dear No One.” The hook perfectly describes my life now – single! And although I am loving the woman I am becoming, “Sometimes, I just want somebody to hold. Someone to give me their jacket when it’s cold. Got that young love even when we’re old.” Thank you, Tori Kelly! How did you know what I was thinking?

You can either pretend to be deaf or attempt to sanctify every hook and chorus with Jesus

There is something appealing about the interaction of lyrics and music. I love music, and I love to write, so perhaps that’s why love songs are appealing to me. What about you? You can either pretend to be deaf or attempt to sanctify every hook and chorus with Jesus; nonetheless there is no denying that almost all of us are in love with love songs.

Perhaps this Valentine’s Day season is a reminder of the battle scars love has left you. Perhaps your life sounds like the Mary J. Blige song “No More Drama” or Fantasia’s line, “Cause when you’ve been broken, you feel like no one can fix it.” For others perhaps Christon Gray’s line “I’m so afraid of the way I love you,” better describes your life.

Go find your love song! Once you find a song, ask yourself why you pick that song? Why does it move you? For me Tori Kelly’s song is a single person’s anthem. She is honest enough to admit that

even though singleness is great, there are moments when the itch to be with someone is too unbearable to ignore. But I love her response, “So if you’re out there somewhere, I’m done looking for my future someone. When the time is right, you’ll be here.” Every time I’m tempted to go find “Mr. Right” because I am bored or had to face someone else’s “in a relationship” status, I recall the lyrics to “Dear No One” and quiet the voices egging me on to scratch the relationship itch.

Jamila Holder Brampton, ON

Strangest habit? She may or may not have a lactose problem, but she refuses to admit it. If she doesn’t have tea to help with it she will heat up juice or water in the microwave and drink it as though it were tea. Her brother calls it “hot juice.”

Jonathan Denney

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Real Talk

Courting vs. Dating Who “courts”? What does that even mean? Isn’t that what your grandparents call dating? Is courting different than dating? Check out what these two words mean according to Google Dictionary. Courting: To be involved with romantically, typically with the intention of marrying. Dating: To go out with (someone in whom one is romantically or sexually interested) They are kind of the same, but very different also. My wife and I never said we were courting, we said we were dating, but the difference is that we established before anything began that our intentions were to get married. I don’t care what you call it as long as you have the right intentions. I’ve seen a lot of teenagers (and I’ll be honest, adults too) use the term courting as a way to try to trick others and themselves into believing that the intension are good with their significant other. Sadly, in the world today there are lots of broken hearts from dysfunctional relationships, and from what I can see, this is because we as a society have forgotten the point of relationships. There should be a reason behind everything we do, and if we just coast through relationship after relationship with no real purpose as to why we are even in it, then why would we be surprised when it all goes up in flames? Ultimately, marriage is supposed to be about true love. Marriage emulates the love 22 LOVEMOVEMENT.CA

that Jesus has for the church. When we date people, we usually find things that upset us, or they do something that is wrong and we decide it’s too hard or painful to forgive them. We cut our losses and move onto the next person or relationship.

months without them, take a step back and reflect. The choices we make affect the rest of our lives. Giving part of your heart to someone else is a big deal.

Whether you call it courting or dating, at the end of the day you should know your inHabits like this can hurt us, because if you tentions and your #relationshipgoals (BTW find that person who is perfect for you, likes your relationship goals should be bigger all the right things, takes the best selfies than taking attractive photos of each other you’ve ever seen, you might get married just doing super staged everyday activities, to find out that they don’t always pretending like they were look Instagram-ready. They might candid). Build good habits “...if it’s just because have some weird quirks that you and strong foundations with you’re bored, lonely didn’t know about. Having illusions your future spouse. Learn or you think they are might make you be more inclined how to love, how to forgive really hot and you just to think about it being time to and how to serve each other. move onto whatever is next. And when you get married can’t picture the next you will be miles ahead of six months without Dating? Courting? When should many who started without them, take a step back you do it? You and your potential knowing what was going on. boyfriend or girlfriend first need

and reflect.”

to establish where the relationship is going. What’s the goal? What’s the point? If it’s mutually agreed that you are seriously intending on getting married, if you can actually see that happening in the near future, and if your parents or mentors know and support you, and if, most of all, you have asked God what He thinks about this, then go for it. But remember that what you eventually are trying to achieve is one of the biggest and most important decision you will ever make after salvation. But if it’s just because you’re bored, lonely or you think they are really hot and you just can’t picture the next six

If you are not sure what steps to take to ensure you enter a healthy relationship, if you need help getting out of an unhealthy one, or need to talk to someone for more information on courting and dating, please speak to your youth pastor or young adults pastor at your church, or seek help or advice from someone in your church or family.

Nathan White Edmonton, AB Strangest habit? He likes to sleep with 15 or more pillows on his bed. But now he’s married, and marriage is about sacrifice so he’s now limited to two! Christopher Sardegna

d e r y d a n D a s k ’ n e i p n i s t g n e in

All th h about Val t u r t e

he smell of chocolate and roses is in the air, your friends are showing more PDA (Public Displays of Affection) in the hallway than usual, and heart-shaped everything is everywhere. Must be time to celebrate fertility! … Wait, what? Many of us celebrate Valentine’s Day when it comes around each year on February 14, but do we really know what it’s all about and where it comes from? It is believed all the gushy traditions started with an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility through a festival that happened February 13–15. But the first Christian feast day celebrating St. Valentine was founded in 496 AD (according to infoplease.com/spot/valentinesdayhistory. html). Why this day commemorated St. Valentine is shrouded in mystery and myth. There were actually three St. Valentines. The most common Valentine’s Day myth takes us back to the year 270. The story goes that the Roman emperor Claudius II thought single men made better soldiers, so he banned them from getting married. In the myth, St. Valentine continued performing marriage ceremonies despite this ban, and it cost him his life. Another myth is St. Valentine was imprisoned by Claudius and fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. Before he died he sent her a love letter signed “from your Valentine.”

Valentine’s Day eventually developed into the huge commercial celebration we face today. It started with the mass production of cards and has moved on to include flowers, chocolate, candy, proposals and any other romantic thing you can think of. But in this environment of materialistic expectations and romanticized view of love, where do Christians fit in?

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” - 1 John 4:7-8 It’s important to remember where the origin of love comes from, and what it looks like in its perfect form – a form that is and can only be, God’s. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). This passage goes on to tell us what that love actually looks like: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

So this Valentine’s Day, whether you’re with a “significant other” or chewing heartshaped candy with friends, take a moment to remember what real love is and turn to the God who started it all. It’s a great time to express real love to those around you —God’s love.

Emily Cook Sutton, ON

Strangest habit? She has a twin bed and there are at least 12 pillows on it. Every morning she lines them all up, and every night she puts them on the floor before she goes to sleep. If the fire alarm went off she would probably trip on them, but at least the landing would be soft!

Roman Kraft

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What I’ve learned from my non-Christian friends

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I have a hard time with the debate over whether Christians should be friends with people who aren’t. It doesn’t really make any sense to me because I don’t think we’re supposed to be an exclusive group of people. I understand the importance of Christian friends to learn from, but I’ve also learned a lot from my friends who don’t share my faith. Here are a few of the things I’ve learned.

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“So, your dad is a nun?” asked another cashier at the grocery store where we both worked. As much as the question made me laugh (out loud, actually), I loved that she felt comfortable enough to ask me, as she tried to piece together what I meant when I said that my dad was a pastor. It made me realize just how different our worlds can be and how weird me being a Christian may seem to my friends who aren’t Christians yet.

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People don’t know much about Christians, so we need to be ready to answer questions – even the ones that make us laugh sometimes.

Christianity to their children and the generations that followed. These basics now seem to mostly be rejected. But sometimes it’s not about rejection, it’s about not knowing. I think it’s time for the church to find more creative ways to share about who God is and who we are. We make big assumptions about people understanding the gospel, which is risky.

We aren’t the only ones who want to make the world a better place. I have many friends who are very driven to make the world a better place too. They simply aren’t doing it to advance the kingdom of God. We can join what they’re doing as well, it’s not just the other way around.

As a minister’s daughter, hiding that I’m a Christian was never really an option. Since people knew where I came from, they’ve asked me their silly questions, which has sometimes led to really neat conversations. We can’t assume that non-Christians hate the church. Often they just don’t know much about it and don’t have a Christian friend that they feel safe asking questions to. We should that be that friend. Let’s invest in people who aren’t Christians and let’s stop treating them like a new project, but rather as fun and interesting people who have stories to tell and things they can teach us as well.

I think the church has often relied on the fact that we lived in a society that was formerly Christian. The church assumes that since the majority of grandparents went to church, they must have passed down the basics about Holly Stiller Port Perry, ON Strangest habit? She uses her floor as a closet.

or text, and I didn’t have the energy to respond. I appreciated their kindness but I was embarrassed and didn’t know what to say, so I cut out most everyone from my life. Through this all, the one Truth that was rooted in my mind was: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:7-8). I believe the key to my journey toward restoring mental wellness began during a phone conversation with a much older friend who I hadn’t seen in years, Kay. During that call in February 2016, she mentioned in conversation what she was learning in Exodus during her daily devotions. I admitted I hadn’t been able to read my Bible for a long time and I asked if I could read along in Exodus with her. That I believe is when my real healing began! As I opened the Scripture and read how patient God was with the Israelites even though they would mess up, God’s kindness, grace and love stood out in a brand new way! I saw myself in the story of brokenness and redemption. I believe I was experiencing a “renewing of my mind” (Romans 12:2). Although I had grown up in a Christian family, been baptized, and had been constantly told I was a “good girl,” it wasn’t until my depression made me face helplessness, brokenness and sin that I realized my true need for my Saviour.

OVERCOMING DEPRESSION

efore I was diagnosed with clinical depression, my life on the outside almost seemed complete. I had lots of friends and significant responsibilities at my church. I was just settling into a new place to live, and loving my city, Moncton, N.B. I was however feeling overwhelmed in my secular day-job and feeling very lonely facing the fact I was single. In Spring 2014 my mind started whirling. I knew I was a worrier before, but now my mind was fixated on the same handful of concerns to the point I was feeling panicky and scattered in my thinking. I stopped eating meals, and all I wanted to do was lay on my couch and wish these overwhelming feelings away. I didn’t know what was happening and couldn’t express how intense the anxiety was inside. Soon, I couldn’t function. I didn’t want to be alone as I was experiencing what I believe was spiritual oppression. All of a sudden I was having dark thoughts of wanting to die – but not wanting to actually admit that out loud. The pain inside was intense and I’d

If you ever find yourself or a close friend with similar symptoms of depression, dread waking up, wondering if I could bare encourage them to slow down and reach out to face another day. for help from medical professionals, counsellors and pastors – sooner rather than My family members encouraged me to later. Encourage them to see a doctor. I ended up make it a priority to eat being diagnosed with clinical “...it wasn’t until my well, exercise and sleep. depression. This resulted in Surrounding ourselves depression made me being “dragged” to appointwith good friends allows ments to see counsellors, us to feel unconditional being referred to a psychiatrist face helplessness, love even when we and two weeks in the psych brokenness and sin might be not caring ward – all pretty humbling about ourselves. that I realized my true experiences. As family, friends and professionals tried to help, need for my Saviour.” As I reflect on these I felt utterly hopeless and was recent years, the going through all of this for lyrics to the song “My over a year and a half. Lighthouse” by the band Rend Collective paint an accurate picture of what I walked Even though I’d been raised in church and through. “In my wrestling and in my doubts, heavily involved in Christian ministry, I / In my failures you won’t walk out. / Your was feeling that I had brought this darkness great love will lead me through. / You are upon myself. I talked to pastors, Christian friends and whoever would listen to me, as I the peace in my troubled sea.” Although my mind was thinking I had been abandoned by truly wondered if I’d “lost” my salvation. I’d God, He was still present and active. scour the Bible and focus in on verses that reinforced my negative self-talk and listen to sermons on the radio. I couldn’t bear to listen to Christian music anymore. I felt like such a failure and useless, as I was someone who had been so committed to living for Rebekah Lewis Moncton, NB Christ. Initially, friends would call, email, Facebook

Strangest habit? Even though she has lots of matching PJs, she doesn’t wear matching PJs. Her mom comments on this every time she visits. María Victoria Heredia Reyes

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WINDSOR BAPTIST CHURCH SENIOR YOUTH GROUP

youth group and a women’s group at Windsor Baptist Church in Nova Scotia joined forces one day last September to bless their local community businesses with cupcakes.

Several months later, employees tell me they still remember this small act. The fact that nothing was asked for or expected from them and that a church in their own community recognized their efforts and wanted to show their appreciation has done wonders at building a relationship between the business community and the church.

The local business area in Windsor is struggling like many other towns in the Maritimes, so the Senior Youth Group and the Women’s Missionary Society decided to “If you are combine their gifts and talents going to be to show appreciation to those who are working hard to be part blessed, a of our community. The women’s group baked 225 cupcakes and brought them to the church where they joined with the teens to decorate the cupcakes with homemade icing and sprinkles.

cupcake is a pretty yummy way to do so!”

The teens then separated into groups to deliver the cupcakes around town to all the businesses. Local business owners and employees were overjoyed receiving a homemade cupcake. As one teen explained to a recipient, “If you are going to be blessed, a cupcake is a pretty yummy way to do so!”

This has had a continuous affect on another of our church’s ministries, a program for our local children on their half day in-services, which is now being blessed by involvement from our local businesses.

Many exciting things have come from this event including bonding relationships between the youth group and the women’s group. A relationship has been initiated between the church and the local business community, and our congregation has been encouraged into thinking of new ways to reach out to our community.

Rev. Jennifer Smith Windsor, Nova Scotia

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Keeping M Up with the

any of you have probably come up with new goals and resolutions for 2017. As someone who isn’t the best at following through with New Year’s resolutions, I understand that life can get in the way and we eventually forget about our resolutions. Here is a list of steps to help us all keep up with our resolutions list this New Year.

New Year

Pick something simple, but rewarding. For example, you may decide to stop watching Netflix for a few weeks to make more time for family, friends and Jesus. Pursue a hobby you have always wanted to do, but just haven’t gotten around to yet. My point is, you don’t have to pick something big, just make sure that it’s beneficial in some way. After you have your goal(s) picked, find someone to hold you accountable and who you can talk to through the process. I find it is always easier to have another person supporting you when you are trying to achieve new things. This person can be a friend, youth pastor or family member. Just make sure it’s someone you see often, so you’ll always have someone to rely on. Log your progress. If you like to journal, then this will be a great step for you. When you have started working on your goals, take time out of your day to write down what has been hard and what has been easy about the whole process. This will also give

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Pick something simple, but rewarding. you a chance to look back and see how far you’ve come. Pray. One of the most important steps in every area of our lives is prayer. There is no one out there who can help you keep up with your goals as much as Jesus can. He’ll be there through the entire process and will give you wisdom when you need it. Simply take a few minutes out of your day to pray to ask God to give you wisdom and determination when completing your new list. New Year’s resolutions are often seen as a huge task that is impossible to complete, but if you have the right determination, faith, and trust, it can be very achievable.

Brittany Pettinger Elgin, MB Strangest habit? Whenever she buys a new book, she rearranges her entire book shelf in order for it to fit in with the right genre. María Victoria Heredia Reyes

to re? trip in n io ltu ble es ies ss cu tta mili nit u pa r ge fa a the for to omm un er c ith no w a an helt er to e on c on s at rs ien da and n w a d lea pe er g xp Can foo g c un e e e rin d yo to Purs rovi lp b a e e u sir n’s p p n h yo de rita hel ca ly! re a ma to you Ju A d a st r in an in S gu r! O dia u Jo A do bo in cua am E C in

I’ve been waiting for you, hoping you will read my texts and answer my call. I’ve been holding the door open for you to come through so I could say: “Welcome home.” There is no need to wipe your feet, Come as you are. You can stop competing, there is no second place here. For me, you have always been first. You are a spark I billowed into flame in the palms of my hands Long before you were twinkle and starlight, before you became stumble and fall.

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Love Is Moving

Before the world pulled and stretched you into just a reflection of yourself, I saw you as the original. Every mistake auto corrected, every blurred line erased and carefully redrawn. Every word I write about you is, masterpiece. You are a masterpiece. To show how proud I am, I have been watching every game, holding pom-poms in your favourite colour, writing cheers and screaming love from the sidelines: “Keep going; don’t give up! I love you, I love you, I love you.” Yesterday, today and forever, I am a firm foundation to stand on. I am here, in the quiet, perfectly still. But my love is always moving. Take it with you wherever you go.

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Dagmar Morgan Toronto, ON Strangest habit? Organizing just for the sake of organizing! She loves doing it.

Rosalind Chang

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Selfies, Memories & Holiday Fumble Pins up and Instagram gloats all about my epic New Year. I flip my strands, pucker my lips, grab my mug and sweater. Realizing I didn’t check my Facebook feeds, I walk towards the computer. Twitter? Awkwardly, I tweak my head, craning my neck, arms up for the best selfie. Sadly, when I tilt the phone it slips from my sweaty fingers, shamefully. Brother, now giggling louder, snatches it, digits full of drool and slobber. Toddlers! Spinning, I twirl and lunge myself towards a cat-and-mouse saunter. Grinning, keeping it cool, I finally see where I can pin that little monster. He wriggles farther with his diapered bottom and runs toward snow and sun. Mo-o-o-o-om! Embarrassed. Irritated. Agitated. Whatevs! I fly through the door. Little legs start to wobble, brother teeters and falls to a fluffy white floor. Skin red, tears streaming, whimpers begin to stifle any sibling rivalry. Benny? My arms reach out, hugging him tight. “Don’t cry, my little buddy.” I try to smile, rubbing his back, keeping his bare skin warm, Then I see my phone a few feet from me... I grab for it, trying not to bail. Fail! Why not? I flop my arms out, then my legs and fan them like a child, wildly, “Make the most of it Benny,” I say super kindly, “Memories are made in the making.” He is now happy. Sappy... Mom picks Benny up and heads for the fire-snapping, chocolatey indoors. Slipping my phone out, I hold it up to snap a picture with new resolutions explored. I click the shutter on my angelic snowy portrait, completely finished--done. Fun! ... I add a note-to-self when editing my newest caption... Life, being lived, is always worth the trouble! Wonderful!

Melanie Kilsby Maple Ridge, BC Strangest habit? Dog-earing books instead of using actual

bookmarks. To her, that’s just weird and she can’t help but do it anyway! What will she do with myself?

Michael Ramey

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Racism in Canada and how it afects young black men Recently I saw a video on Facebook from CBC News that interviewed black boys from the Peel District School Board, a region just outside of Toronto. The black high school boys expressed their daily experiences with racism, prejudice, and students and teachers treating them differently because of the colour of their skin. They shared that students of other races fear them and teachers would not encourage them to excel in the classroom as much as others. In recent times, when we think of racial inequalities we tend to refer to what’s going on in the U.S.A. But what does racism look like for young black men in Canada? Are the experiences of the young men in the video widely shared? The video inspired me to interview some young black men to try to find out. When I interviewed Chris, he recalled being stopped and questioned by police officers while on his way to a semi-formal school event. Even though he was dressed in a suit and tie and was behaving appropriately, the police still found the need to stop him. It was the first time he says he experienced prejudice from a person

in authority based on what appeared to be the colour of his skin. Once, Chris joined the basketball team at school. The teachers would encourage him to only excel in basketball, but not in his academics, he says. Despite the lack of encouragement, Chris was the only one from his basketball team to go to university right after high school. When I asked a 14-year-old whether he has experienced racism, I was surprised to hear from him, at such a young age, that he had. It came from his friend’s parents who did not want their child to befriend him. I asked him if there was anything he did that would cause his friend’s parents to be concerned. “There is nothing that I have done wrong,” he says. “I have always been a good kid who listens to teachers and is respectful to people. I honestly asked myself what is it about me that would make my friend’s parents feel uncomfortable? I couldn’t think of anything. My friend finally told me, ‘Bro, it’s because you’re black.’ ”

My friend finally told me, ‘Bro,

it’s because you’re black.’

“It makes me angry,” he says, “to know that I am judged based on how I look and not for who I am. What makes me more upset is this an example of racism they are teaching their son to have towards me and people who Advertisment

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look like me.” I asked a successful 25-year-old black man about his experience, and I was surprised to learn that racism fed into what he thought of himself. “You may see me being successful now, achieving my goals and impacting lives, yet it wasn’t always like that. Because of how the media portrays young black boys, in high school I lived off of the ‘just-getting-by’ mentality,” he says. “It was cool to not care about doing well in school and in life. After all, I believed I was dumb because of my race. My friends and I settled for marks in the 50s and it never bothered us,” he says. The experiences of these young men surprised me. Their current success would make you doubt they ever went through any prejudice. But one common thing I noted – from the young 14-year-old who wants to be a mechanical engineer all the way to the 27-year-old who holds an executive position with United Way – is they don’t allow racism to have the final say on who they are. One of them summarized it this way: “I had to take ownership of my life.” Hearing the experiences of these three young men helped me realize that young black men in Canada face racism, just like black men in the U.S.A. – not just from races outside of their own, but within their community and themselves as well. They all have histories plagued with racism. And even though it still occurs, their histories are filled with a bigger conviction to fulfill destiny because, ultimately, God doesn’t look at the colour of our skin. Rosemond Ennin Brampton, ON (Living in Belize)

SEEKING LOVE Apply Within The Fault in Our Stars

“Maybe she wasn’t loved widely but she was loved deeply… and isn’t that more than most of us get?” – Augustus Waters (The Fault In Our Stars) It’s hard to find love in movies. Well, to be fair, it’s not hard to find what they think love is. Most films seem to have some kind of romance in the story, usually because someone feels like their life is meaningless without it. Then, as the movie goes on, that person finally finds that special someone to meet their needs and they realize what it means to be happy. But then there’s a film like The Fault in Our Stars, based on a widely acclaimed 2012 novel by John Green. The Fault in Our Stars tells us the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 17-year-old girl who is suffering from life-threatening cancer in her lungs. While her family loves and cares for her, she feels very much alone and lost, feeling that life is something that happens to other people. Eventually, she decides to join a support group for cancer patients (that meets in a church, the “literal heart of Jesus”). It’s here she meets Augustus Waters, a charismatic young cancer patient who quickly becomes enamoured with her. As their relationship grows, the young couple quickly learn the realities of genuine love in the face of life and death. Now, on the surface, the story sounds like a lot of other romance flicks. Think about it. A timid woman who’s inexperienced at love is drawn to the charisma of a bad boy with a heart of gold. On that level, you could insert pretty much any set of characters and churn out pretty much any film, ranging from The Spectacular Now to the Twilight series. In movies like these, “love” usually takes the form of making someone happy with either romance or sex. Once you’ve got that, everything else is fine. Cue the music and fade to black. Even though it falls into some of these patterns along the way, The Fault in Our Stars shows us that love is something else entirely. From the very beginning of the film, Hazel wants us to know that what we’ve been sold about love and pain simply isn’t true. “I believe we have a choice in this world about how we tell sad stories,” she says, “On the one hand, you can sugar coat it, like they do in romance novels or movies. Nothing is too mixed up that can’t be

Love is shown to be more about what we can give to the other person than what we take for ourselves. corrected with an apology or a Peter Gabriel song… It’s just not the truth.” Still, in this movie, finding love isn’t the end goal. While most relationship flicks want us to believe romance is the thing we’re missing, The Fault in Our Stars wants us to understand that love is far more complicated than getting promises and flowers. In fact, the film shows that the mark of real love comes when we’re willing to stand by one another when we’re at our worst. (By the way, here come the spoilers…) The love between Hazel and Augustus is rooted in genuine commitment to one another – even in the face of death. As Augustus’ cancer slowly spreads and his health gets worse, Hazel doesn’t run away. She demonstrates real love by her commitment to him in his worst moments of anger, fear and sickness. She doesn’t stay with Augustus because she feels guilty, and she doesn’t run when things get hard. In fact, she’s even thankful that she’s had the experience. “Some

infinities are bigger than other infinities. I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity,” she says. If that isn’t the best onscreen depiction of 1 Corinthians 13 you’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is. Hazel’s love for Augustus isn’t some teen crush (or vice versa). Instead, it’s rooted in a deep commitment to help the other person become the best version of themselves emotionally and spiritually. Biblically speaking their love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things [and] endures all things.” While love is certainly a basic need, too often we’re told that it’s about us, our feelings and our wants. In The Fault in Our Stars though, love is shown to be more about what we can give to the other person than what we take for ourselves. While the film doesn’t seem to fully draw the lines to Christian faith – even though much of it takes place in “the literal heart of Jesus” and elsewhere author John Green has referred to himself as a Christian – it very clearly depicts what genuine biblical love is all about. So, let’s not settle for less.

Steve Norton Newmarket, ON Strangest habit? Going to the bathroom in the dark.

Toa Heftiba

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