Digital edition available at facebook.com/thebeacononline
THE BEACON Volume 68, Issue 7
March 9th, 2018
Take Heart For as long as I can remember, I have loved the song “Amazing Grace”. I have listened to countless versions, sung it in church, hummed it while doing chores. I once did a dramatic monologue for my theatre arts class in High School where I finished the scene by packing a bag and singing the all familiar words. Today I was thinking about the words, “was blind, but now I see”. I think that the obvious meaning to this verse goes back to the story in John 9. Jesus healed a blind man, then he tells his disciples that he is there to make the blind see, and that those who see will become blind (verses 39-41). He physically heals the blind man, but more than that, he spiritually heals the blind. When Christ comes into our lives, our eyes are opened and we have the incredible gift to see Him and The Kingdom in a whole new way. But as I thought about this truth, I also began to think about the ways that we remain or, even to some extent, become blind after we open our hearts to Christ. Here is what I’m suggesting: maybe when we give our lives—our future, our plans, and our purpose—over to God, we then become a little blind to what is going to happen. Yes, we have the knowledge to know that God has a plan, that he will guide us and shape us throughout the journey, but in truth that is often all we know. For so long I have struggled with trying to discern God’s call on my life. I still don’t feel that I have figured it all out and I do my best to rest in the knowledge that God has it under control. But I still wrestle—daily—with the fact that I can’t see into the future. I could quote SO many verses about God having a plan for each of our lives, but I won’t. And it’s true, God does have a plan for each of us, but today that isn’t what I am wrestling with. I’m secure in the knowledge that God’s got my back. Today I am reflecting on this: I am blind to the future, but God sees. “declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (Isaiah 46:10) I’m not going to lie, that is a really tough truth for me. I am a control freak. But I am trying to learn to let that go (at least a little bit) and let God. We, the children of the King, have been blessed enough to say that we were once blind, but now we can see. But we are also blessed enough to say that we don’t have to worry about the future that we can’t see, because our Father, Savior, and King sees what we can’t. Much Love, Taylor Craig
Taylor Craig is a fourth-year Psych and BTh student. She is the founder of the devotional blog Take Heart Daughters.
Spicy Crandall Memes
CSA Report: The CSA met on February 22nd to discuss the upcoming elections and events. Last year, SurveyMonkey was used to count the electoral votes of students who were participating in the Oxford Programme. This year the CSA is thinking of using SurveyMonkey as a way for all students to vote. The main argument for this method is its convenience for students both on and off-campus. The use of this familiar engine would enable students to vote without leaving the comfort of their home. Despite this benefit, the CSA still has some concerns. They are unsure about how to limit voting and keep it restricted to Crandall students. If you have any opinions or insights regarding the use of SurveyMonkey for the election, the CSA would love to hear from you. Despite there being only a month left of classes, the CSA isn’t slowing down. They’re busy planning events such as the spring banquet (April 6th) and a puppy room (April 10th, from 12:30-2:20) to keep students motivated. Most events were given a budget of $200 each, but the spring banquet’s budget was $3000. This year, the Cocoa Room’s cost went up to $4000, but the CSA isn’t too worried about covering the cost. With the sale of tickets (anticipating 150) and the money they have saved thus far from other events, there shouldn’t be a problem coming up with the remaining $1000.
Spicy Crandall Memes
Deanna Gallant is a 4th year English Major, Psych minor, and is in the Youth Leadership Certificate program. She naps a concerning amount and loves puns, Netflix, and peanut butter pie.
What a semester so far! We’ve had Hannah Trail and Michael Gregory speak, and on March 2nd we celebrated what God has done in our lives with cake and time for testimonies. We have two services left on March 23rd and April 13th, and we have two awesome speakers planned. Make sure you plan to come out to these! Send an email to mysomachurch@gmail.com, or send a message to Braxton Dearman, Zack Saint, Michael Gregory, Alex Pattison, Hannah Trail, Angela MacKinnon, or myself (Jessie Campbell), if you’re interested in getting involved somehow in the fall. We’d love to meet with you about what it takes to be on the team! May God keep you focused, sharp, and calm as you study and write final papers. Blessings! Jessie Campbell is one of the co-runners of Sóma, along with Braxton Dearman.
Interview with Professor Mark Hanson What is the summary of your academic career, leading you to teach at Crandall this semester? My academic history started when I came to Crandall after high school to do my Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. A week after finishing, I started my masters in theological studies at McMasters University in Hamilton. I did that for two years and finished that; however, my coursework was done a year before my graduation, so I finished my work in 2016 but graduated in 2017. This meant I had a year off where I was trying to find work. I was trying to go into pastoral ministries because I thought that’s where I was being led. However, one day I was in Stultz Hall for one of the Path Ordination Meetings and Professor Bodner saw me eating lunch and approached me and asked me to teach the Hebrew class here at Crandall. Right now, I am looking to start a PhD in Historical Theology. What’s a summary of your Christian upbringing? I was baptized into a United church, and forever thought I was baptized into an Anglican church until I was later corrected. Later my parents went to the Saint John Vineyard church, which was a shift from a cathedral to a garage on the south end of Saint John, a very different feel and attitude there. I stopped going for a while because of hockey but later started going to a traditional Baptist church since I was told by a friend that they had a church hockey team. This church was a very different feel from what I was used to. However, I ended up being baptized into that church. Yet much of my development came out of my time at Crandall, when I congregated at the Journey Church. If you found a 10,000,000 dollar lottery ticket, what would you end up doing with it? I would first pay off my student loans, and the loans of those closest to me. I would probably use the money to bless others. I don’t need a lot of money or things, but I would probably buy a bass pedal; some of those can be expensive. I also know that some people need cars, so I may just buy a couple people some cars. What are some of your pastimes? I am a very big reader, which is funny considering I couldn’t read 'til grade 5. I have been on a big Tolkien spree lately. I am also very interested in the Church fathers and academic things. I grew up watching anime, and I like playing video games online sometimes. I also play bass, but mostly for church bands. How many concussions do you have? I have around 8-9. I had one in middle school, then one in early high school. Then later I had about 5 in the span of two weeks.
Then a few later on after that. For the first couple of years at Crandall, this meant I had crippling pain to light, and some mood swings and depression. I also had irregular sleep cycles. So I often went for walks, and I feel that gave me a reputation around Crandall as being “that guy”. I really learned from all of this that you don’t necessarily have to be happy to be satisfied in life. Even if things in your life are falling apart, you can be at home because you are trusting in something greater. Reminding yourself that this is life, so let’s experience the beauty of this and the grace of God in this, and let’s praise and thank him in this. I don’t have to feel that everything needs to be good because I would be missing out on all this grace and mercy and love.
If you were stranded on an island (with supplies and a Bible) what three books would you bring? I would make sure to bring a really good devotional, something to encourage me and keep me going while I am discouraged, since you’d probably get depressed being alone on a desert island. I think the second book I would bring would be relaxation. I would probably end up taking a volume of One Piece, which is a manga, so I can get those creative juices flowing--I mean you’d need to be using your imagination to escape for a little bit. My third book would be a survival guidebook. Teach me how to build houses, and survive in the wild.
Jonny Dejager is a 2nd year English major who grew up in Peru, and is thus unaware of Canadian social cues. He also was most likely attacked by a baby puma.
Critic’s Corner Ready Player One Official Trailer Review *spoiler alert in effect* -Frannie: Hopefully we aren’t throwing off the balance of the universe with me commencing this article, but I know a bit more about this movie than Deney does (as with every movie ever made). -Deney: Say that to my face, you movie-lovin’-freak! I bet I know more about The Lord of the Rings than you do! -You know more about the books maybe, but do you know who Peter Jackson auditioned for Legolas before Orlando Bloom? Justin Bieber, Bryan Adams — a surprising number of Canadian singers, actually. -Celine Dion? -Yeah! But in reality, I do know a fair bit about this movie simply because I’ve read the book. -Oh, you read the book, did you? -Well, six chapters. But I’m a busy university student! When was the last time you’ve read for leisure, or even for school, for that matter? YEARS. This movie is what I like to refer to as the love child of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (the performance of a lifetime for Sylvester Stallone). Before he passed away, James Halliday, the creator of a virtual reality device called the OASIS, hid an Easter egg somewhere within the vast digital universe for some lucky player to find. This person would be given not only Halliday’s fortune as reward, but also total ownership of the OASIS itself. -Personally, this whole thing screams Sword Art Online to me. At least the virtual reality aspect of it does. From my limited knowledge — courtesy of Frannie — the year 2045 is not treating humanity too kindly. Global warming and overpopulation have ruined the lives of the unfortunate souls left to roam earth. And so, stressed, depressed, and underdressed, people find themselves slipping into another dimension to temporarily forget their woes. Not gonna lie, I pretty much do that on a daily basis… but this is taking it to another level entirely. -My favourite parts of this book, and what I am most looking forward to in the movie, are all of the references to older pop culture. James Halliday grew up in the 1980s, and his mind was consumed by his childhood obsessions even into adulthood (relatable). Due to this, there are numerous references to popular movies, video games, and TV
Spicy Crandall Memes
shows of the past scattered throughout the book and packed into this 2minute trailer. Sharp eyes will be able to spot the DeLorean from Back to The Future, The Iron Giant himself, and a possible nod to Say Anything with a boombox being lifted high to the sky (hopefully blasting some Peter Gabriel)! -Sign me up for the nostalgia! You know I’m a sucker for it. It soon becomes apparent that this race to find the Easter egg is more dangerous than previously thought. Whether the danger stems from the VR or the bad guys out in the real world, I can’t quite say. But, one thing is for sure, the threat is real enough for war to break out within the OASIS. Dun. Dun. DUUUUH. -Overall, I think this looks like a great movie. Whether it lives up to the fantastic six chapters I’ve read or not, I can honestly say that I am super excited to sit back and watch a million pop culture references unfold on screen. Oh, and one more thing! The guy from The Dark Knight Rises is in this. See Steven Spielberg’s latest adaptation in theatres March 30th. Deney Taylor is a second-year business student focusing in accounting. She is an antisocial recluse who rarely emerges from the depths of the internet, but when she does it’s most likely because she has to pretend to be a responsible adult (ugh). Frannie Branswell is a second year business major who isn’t playing basketball this year, I know right?! She loves making art, watching movies, and sleeping, all of which she sacrifices for school and good grades.
What’s on Your Mind? Rest Rest is essential for our well-being. If we don’t learn how to take regular breaks, we put ourselves at risk for a full breakdown. Functioning at full speed 24/7 only increases the risk that we will crash and burn. Though it may seem counter-intuitive if you’re a driven, Type A, taskoriented person like me, the reality is that we’re actually more productive when we habitually take time off. As I’m sure most of you know, this semester, I participated in Crandall’s production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It was a dream come true for me and I loved every second of it. However, committing to that production required me to sacrifice much of my regular “Sabbath time” in preparation for the show. When March Break finally rolled around, I felt like I had hit a wall physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I was absolutely beat. I don’t doubt you’ve been there too — at the end of your rope, lacking the energy and motivation to press on, in desperate need of rejuvenation. In fact, I dare say we all have. And that’s okay! We’re only human, after all; God intentionally designed us with limitations as a way of reminding us of our need for Him. Sabbath can sometimes feel like a discipline for us perpetually ambitious people, but it’s an important one to practice if we want to serve the LORD to the best of our abilities. Here are a few simple suggestions for making the most of your day off: • Take a Facebook/social media “fast” once a week. You’d be surprised how refreshing it can feel to temporarily disconnect from the virtual world every once in a while. • Learn to schedule your time strategically so that you can set schoolwork aside on Sundays. If something is due on Monday, try to get it done by Saturday. Having a day where you are free to do anything you like will help you to feel energized for the demands of the new week. • Take time to engage in relaxing, mindful activities such as reading, coloring, or strolling through the woods—something that helps you to find peace and calm in the midst of life’s stressors. Allana Walker is a third year psychology major with aspirations of becoming a counselling therapist. She is addicted to dark chocolate, loves big words, and is always in the mood for a good pun.
Health and Wellness with Mir
Alleviate anxiety, boost brainpower, sharpen your memory, improve your balance, spark creativity, and expel bodily toxins.
Physical activity can change one’s wellbeing and life. Gaining strength is a key component to such change. Plyometric and calisthenic styles of training are designed to maximize muscle gain, strengthening the body by using a person’s body weight and functional body movements. Combined with weight training, these styles of training improve stamina, encourage flexibility and fat burning, and develop significant strength. Try the following training session at your nearest gym: • Squat warm-up • Alternative Reverse Lunges: 4 sets of 14-16 total reps • Hip thrusts: 5 sets of 8-10 total reps • Hip abductor: 3 sets of 10-12 total reps • Sled bear crawls: 3 sets of 25m • Weighted sled pushes: 3 sets of 25m Best, Mir Miranda Roberts is a fourth year history major from Moncton, New Brunswick. She began her health and fitness journey a year and a half ago. She enjoys hiking, cooking, and weight lifting. She is an extroverted young adult who is looking forward to being a future archaeologist and professor.
Keeping Up With the CSA CSA Update! There are several very important things coming up as this school year comes to an end. Take note of the dates and tell your friends! Campaigning for Executive positions will last until Wednesday, March 14 @ 12PM. Voting for the Executive positions will take place Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. Results will be announced at a CSA Meeting at 8PM and then posted on social media following the meeting. Nominations for Senate positions start Monday, March 12th and last until March 23rd. If you are interested or you think your friend might be, let them know! Whether you are going to run for a position or not, please take your opportunity to vote and ask those running about their ideas and hopes for serving on the CSA. Another important item to be aware of is the Spring banquet on April 6. There are limited spots, which means tickets must be purchased to attend! Tickets will be able to be purchased in the bookstore. The banquet organizers are looking for performers (mainly music) so if you are interested, please contact Becca Reay at beccareay46@gmail.com (don’t hesitate – she’s nice). Thank you for checking in on what’s going on! Nigel Butterfield is a 3rd year Business Administration :Management & Theology major. I like to think I have a wide variety of interests from sustainable agriculture and earth rejuvenation ,to theology, to business'y stuff, to really understanding how we live out the new life God promises... So I'd love to talk some time!
Dystopia Now Champlain Mall? More like Champ-drain Mall , ha ha! That’s funny right?
Why is it that every time I go to the mall I come out feeling like dog dookie ? For a long while I thought I was the only one who felt this way. However, when I recently brought this up in conversation, I found that I wasn’t the only one, and because of this inane fact, I’m willing to bet that there are more people who experience the same draining effects. This person I was speaking with had mentioned that she was so confused by this phenomenon that she felt the need to ask her doctor about it. The answer had something to do with the hypnotic quality of the halogen lights and the intensity of the heating system. In conjunction, the doctor concluded, these elements create a drowsiness that some find uncomfortable. This made sense to me— but as I write this I am reminded of another person who once told me that the patterning of the ceiling tiles gave her vertigo, and while she experienced the same sluggish feeling upon entering the mall, she claimed that it was the architectural illusions that caused her discomfort. This seems to account for the fact that even during the summer—when the heating systems are turned off—that I still feel like a grubby maggot when I go into Champlain mall. Another element to take into consideration is the general hum of the unwashed masses, their screaming toddlers, and the cacophony of music that bleeds out of each store; not to mention the stink of the food court, where the smell of pizza, hamburgers, French fries, Chinese food, doughnuts, coffee, dirty diapers, and cigarette butts mix together to treat your nose to an olfactory freak show free of charge. I can say with some degree of certainty that these are the components that come together to make your trip to the mall as pleasant as possible. Christian Arsenault is a fourth-year English/Education major. He can usually be found playing Runescape on World 72 near the Barbarian Village.
CU Cooking: One Pot Stew (A Go-To)
Ingredients: One Package of Stew Beef Flour (I use about a ½ cup total but it may vary) 1 Box of Beef Broth 2-3 Large Carrots About 10 Baby Potatoes Sliced (or you could use normal potatoes) 1 ½ - 2 Cups of Turnip 1 tsp of Rosemary 1 tsp of Garlic 1 tsp of Oregano 1 tsp of Basil Salt & Pepper to Taste Olive Oil Instructions: Put a large pot on the stove on medium heat, put some olive oil in the pot (about two turns of the pot) Place about a ¼ cup of flour and some salt and pepper in a bowl, then roll the beef in the flour mixture just enough to cover the meat. Brown the meat in the pot. Once the meat is brown, pour in one box of broth, then fill about half of the box with water and pour that in the pot. Put all other ingredients into the pot and let simmer on low-medium heat for a few hours. Once the veggies are cooked through, mix 1-2 tablespoons of flour with a splash of cold water to make a paste, pour that into the stew, and mix it. This will thicken the stew, so you may want to start with one tbsp. and see if it is thick enough before adding a second. *This is a very easy recipe, but it’s kind of one to play with. This recipe was derived from one my mom used growing up, so when I make it I don’t really measure or make it the same every time. *This recipe is always good with baking powder biscuits too! Forever Food Fans, Taylor & Sam #CUCooking Sam Williams is a fourth-year science student. She’s very passionate about all things food, coffee, and penguins. Taylor Craig is a fourth-year psychology and BTh student. She’s a coffee addict, a food lover, and a nap advocate.
Crandall Poll: Pets One of the biggest issues of coming to university is leaving your pets. I mean, sure, your beloved(ish) family is farther away, mom’s homecooked meals are no longer available, maybe you miss your queen-sized bed and the lack of someone snoring nonstop every night, but, really, it’s the pets. Thus, in the interest of wishful thinking, which is the only important kind of thinking, this month’s poll is about what pet, out of literally anything, you would choose to keep you company in these times of sheer academic panic. In first place is “dogs, probably.” This is unsurprising to anyone aware of the popularity of Crandall’s exam period puppy room events. And dogs are cute and all well and good but, considering that the second place option is a small dragon, I think we’ve got some misplaced priorities. A small dragon, guys. That’s actually the coolest possible thing to own ever. It could sit on your shoulder and collect your loose change and also be a hot water bottle. It’s economic efficiency, cool factor, and adorableness in one small package. The three different options tied for third are cats (expected), a sentient magic carpet (less expected), and “No (emotional attachments are meaningless when compared to the void of despair that is the coming exam season),” which is pretty reasonable if you ask me. However, this poll also got a much higher than usual percentage of DIY responses, many of which are excellent and I include them below for your enjoyment. “A cow! Or several so they won’t get lonely! They’re just like really big dogs, and they’re super friendly!” I’m down. We could keep a herd of cows on the baseball field, right? “Would definitely choose a large spider that consumes people on command and does all my laundry by hand.” I can respect that sort of efficiency in a pet. “At least six porgs.” Some decided to specify that they didn’t want just any plebeian cat, but “one beautiful, perfect cat.” Good on you. You aim high and dream your dreams and all that. The RAs may be interested to know that someone else is planning a menagerie including “[o]ne owl, a lizard, a cat, a dog, [and] a giraffe” along with a zebra that they may already be concealing somewhere on res. I’d check the closets where the water heaters are, if I were you. It sounds like someone else forgot to read the dorm rules. One tiny portion of this individual’s response is “What do you mean pets aren't allowed? I already have one. Actually, I have thousands of them. You see, I'm a bug collector. My passion is for bugs and I have many types of them. Ants, worms, moths, cockroaches, even a dung beetle! I call him The Janitor :) Anyway, I love them like brothers and I would be really sad if I had to get rid of them.” Sorry, bud, and good luck because I think I just set the authorities on your trail by printing this. Hide them in your desk drawers, maybe? Dani Reimer is a fourth-year English major who will shortly be defecting to the History department (don’t tell the profs). Dani can frequently be found in the library taking naps or consuming copious amounts of chocolate
Spicy Crandall Memes
Leah Eisener is a third-year English student who laughs at her own jokes and enjoys memes more than the company of others.
SHALLNOT Who We Are
While “shall not” is usually used as a command to refrain, to withhold, or to compromise, Shallnot holds to the opposite: Thou shalt not be silenced. Shallnot is designed to be a forum and an opportunity for students to express their ideas –Dani Reimer, Assistant Editor
Failure
Mistakes are little lessons we learn upon the road of life.
Snek the Irresistble - Daniel Maguire
Failures are trial and errors - our preludes to successes. Success is a heady drink like Champagne or beer. It drowns us with joy; helps feed our bruised egos and Yet, it really teaches us nothing that helps prepare us for life.
We yearn for successes but our successes and what come With them never really permeate the depths of our souls the Way failure seems to penetrate.
Writer. Noun. Spends days hunched over cheap paper. Dollar-store pen scratching out Words and sentences and worlds. - Trochaic
Successes are dull, giddy, stupors. Failures are sharp, intense, awakenings. - Shane Dickie
Shallnot exists to express the views of all students from all walks of life. If you or someone you know has something to say—whether through pictures, essays, short stories, cartoons, poetry or any other form of art—please contact us at crandallbeacon@gmail.com with submissions.