e x p l o r at i o n w i t h i n t e n t i o n
The Inquirer The official student newspaper of canadian university college
a n au ro r a c h ro n i c l e s pu b l i c at i o n
{“ t r a n s fo r m, R e fo r m” C h a n ta l J a n L eotau d} issue
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volume
61 • January 27, 2014
14-01-22 1:48 AM
In The Brain
Editor’s Note “Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.” - Stephen King
Vo ic e + Ac t i o n= f u n da m e n ta l c h a n g e
Inside... 3
Voice + Action
4
keeping accountability
Blank Page, Fresh Start
by s a pph i r e Wo o d s
5 revamping representation Potential is a big word that often gets thrown about when people antipate with all their might for the good of things. I’ve often caught myself saying that an individual has potential because I hope fervently that the right choices are being made that leads to fulfillment. Sometimes I think that an essay or an idea has potential to be great because I hope so badly that logic will prevail despite what the ideas look like on paper. Saying that something has potential is quite easy to do as any one thing can have infinite potential. But what is it about potential that takes it out of the realm of the imaginary and into reality?
6
and a good day it is.
7
book and movie list 2014
8
9 10
The Stench of Sheer Joy.
Salt from your sa sunday at seven
Action. Potential is only activitated when movement is added. There’s been a lot of movement on campus lately and it’s the kind of bug I don’t mind contracting. This student body is chock-full of potential. People are here from all walks of life, have different personalities, opinions, and capabilities. Don’t get lost in the promise of potential, but your words to action! Sapphire w.
11
What we’re listening to The Importance of Being Slightly Crazy...
13 The Listener
14
Breaking bread
To submit questions, response, art, or an article: - swoods@cauc.ca - sachronicles@gmailcom The content of this newspaper represents the views, opinions and interests of the students on the Aurora Chronicles (The Inquirer) Editorial Team. Readers should not assume that what they find in this newspaper is automatically endorsed or supported by the CUC Student Association, Canadian University College, its Administration or its employees. What you find here may very well be one student writer’s opinion. While we, the Editorial Team, do our best to ensure that the information provided is correct, mistakes do occur and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the material. If you do notice any mistakes or you disagree with the appropriateness of any of the content please contact the editorial team directly at sachronicles@gmail.com
January 27, 2014
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President Kryzia Abacan and the Student Association have been under pressure. To sit on SA is one thing but, to restructure the student body is quite another. SA President Kryzia has identified two problems with the functionality of SA-there is a lack of accountability and a lack of continuity. Posed is the issue: once an exec team is elected, it usually takes about a semester to understand one’s actual role. This leaves only one semester to then achieve the goals set to change CUC’s student body. In between this transition, the student body itself is left floundering under an insubstantial and disorganized structure. Before Kryzia Abacan was voted president of SA, her speech promised change—reform. For an individual like Kryzia, a little bit of pressure wasn’t going break her from the intended goal. Fresh from the holidays, SA exec and Justin Arnesto from Senate came together to discuss improving not only their roles on SA, but also how to use their roles to make it easier to students to get the most out of their university experience. As representatives of the student body, the first order of Kryzia’s business was to reform the requirements for the Student Association (see page 4). Outside of academics, CUC is the home base for many clubs, organizations and special interest groups. Outside of SA, Kryzia also found an issue with these clubs’ visibility on campus. All too often, many clubs and organizations host or organize events that go unrecognized or unheard of by most students on campus. Considering the small size of our campus, it should go without saying that there must be a missing link across campus, which alienates a lot of students from participating in interesting events or acting as potential leaders of groups. To Kryzia, this lack of continuity is detrimental to the growth and progression of the student body. The Inquirer
Now, progression will happen, but without us students taking on leadership roles or even taking interest in participating within the campus, the progression that takes place may not be influenced by your interests. For instance, without students, the Drama Society would not have such dynamic and diverse performances. Without students, Aurora Drumline would not even exist. Without students, this beloved newspaper would be run into the ground! Although these abovementioned groups already exist, this is not to say that the opportunity for new and innovative clubs are impossible. For those who wish to implement a new organization on campus, Student Association is dedicating their time to helping individuals access and complete the paperwork. Addition to helping new clubs become successfully established, SA is also fully prepared to financially support clubs and their endeavors. Kryzia’s first goal, even before acting as President, was to ensure communication across campus—to help us unite voices to encourage a more efficient change. With uniting student voice and student activity, our campus has the potential spring into life. Although traditions are nice and important to our school, the time has come for new faces, new voices, and a fundamental change that has started with you. The voices that have risen are being heard, so continue speaking up! What we are building is a new structure. A structure made by and built for students like us; an invisible structure that stands on continuity and ingenuity. A structure that is just as unique as we are. If you are interested in a club, want to join, or have any questions, do not hesitate to e-mail Kryzia at: KAbacan@cauc.ca or make a comment on the SA facebook page: facebook.com/ TheCaUCSA. Page 3
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Keeping Accountability
- create a timeline for all events for the rest of the semester
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - You are required to attend every meeting: Sunday @ 10 AM
late, please text the secretary.
more frequently, it is to your discretion, but a bi-weekly
meeting is mandatory) - appoint a secretary for the social committee - submit minutes of meetings to the General Secretary
- Expectations and goals must be met in order to obtain full
- submit any recommendations/suggestions to the President
stipend.
- assist all clubs and organizations in putting together events
- You will have a binder that comprises of SA Exec agendas
and meeting minutes, committee agendas and meeting min
utes, and any other pertinent reports for the SA Exec
tivities from other clubs and organizations
that we can decipher whether we need to reschedule or not.
- The confidentiality report must be signed and upheld.
and activities - create a ‘funds request’ form that clubs and organizations
must fill out when they need money from the SA budget
- You are required to contribute to a calendar document of
this year that will be further explained at one of our meet
ings
COMMUNICATION VP - ensure that the newspaper publisher is paid on time - ensure that the yearbook publisher is paid in full - compile a list of newspaper contributors who need to be
FINANCIAL VP - present a monthly expenses report to the SA Exec and Sen ate
- meet with communications committee bi-weekly
another form for other clubs/organizations
in these meetings you will forward any recommendations/
- meet with club/organization treasurers on a monthly basis
- submit minutes of meeting to the General Secretary
book
better track of the paper trail - keep a record of everything that is handed in to finance
at the end of the semester and submit it to the Financial
VP
- set a monthly deadline for reimbursement forms to keep
paid monthly and submit it to the Financial VP - compile a list of yearbook contributors who need to be paid
- create a general “reimbursement form” for the SA Exec and
and submit a copy monthly to the general secretary for
suggestions/concerns regarding the newspaper and year - provide an update of some sort bi-weekly for the campus
about the happenings of SA - review newspaper and yearbook before it is sent to pub
lisher
record-keeping - look into the endowment fund and the financial aspects STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Retention Committee & Spiritual Life Committee: Tristan ACADEMIC VP
Discipline Committee: Kelcie Brown
- submit minutes of meetings to the General Secretary
Discipline Appeal & Academic Master Planning: Gladvin
- compile a report of all bylaw changes to present at the end
Caro
- meet with senate weekly - submit any recommendations/suggestions to the President of the year
Thyagaraj Academic Master Planning: Sapphire Woods Campus Life Committee: Kaitlyn Brown
- work with clubs on bylaws
Risk Management Committee: Cara Boyce
- look into the endowment fund and the bylaw aspects
Saturday Night Coordinating Committee: Chantel Leotaud Computer Services Committee: Dustin Bruce & Griffin
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by Ric h a r d M acD o u g a l l
- meet with social committee bi-weekly (if you need to meet
- If you will miss a meeting, you must give 24-hour notice so
from the Social VP standpoint - create a general timeline that includes all events and ac
(unless otherwise stated). - You must be on time for every meeting; if you are running
Revamping Representation
SOCIAL VP
Canadian University College – for most of us, our campus is our home, figuratively if not literally. Those of us living on campus housing eat, sleep, and work through CUC, and for those of us who live off-campus the beautiful monster of academia has us pretty much tied to the campus all the time anyway. This is why universities are the hubs of so many good things – keep a bunch of young, educated people holed up in a handful of buildings and see what they do. However, it would be naïve to close our eyes to some of the many faults in our campus. I always find myself comparing my life at CUC to the lives of some of my friends at other campuses in Canada. Academically, there’s absolutely no concern – we’re incredibly privileged to be able to take courses from professors who actually know who we are. It’s in some of our cultural aspects that we’re struggling – anybody who’s wandered into the “snack shack” these past few months should know what I’m talking about. Upperclassmen, remember the glory of your freshman year? Omelettes for breakfast! A game of pool with a plate of fries in the evening! Mid-day teas en route to Human Ecology! CUC’s culture is waning and the quality of student life is dropping, and not for a lack of trying. Projects like Social Eyez, while great ideas, don’t always live up to their full potential. This is where that ends. Over the last week I had the privilege of attending a couple of meetings held by the Student Association and various others to discuss remodelling and revolutionizing the way in which various sects of campus life groups interact with each other, with CUC, and how SA plans to shepherd it all. Promising things are lurking on the horizon. The first meeting, held last Wednesday afternoon, saw SA president Kryzia Abacan explaining her position to an extremely supportive Student Association. Kryzia proposed a few steps to work towards establishing a network amongst all facets of CUC’s various organizaThe Inquirer
tions. The focus of this first meeting was to address some of the structural cracks in the way SA operates. Proposed changes include revisiting SA members’ various duties in order to create a more efficient unified body. Bylaws, laws governing all groups that operate within CUC, can inevitably put up barriers simply because of a lack of understanding as to what various bylaws constitute, when changes are made, and other issues the SA resolves to keep meticulous record of. The second meeting occurred later that evening, between Kryzia and various clubs and organizations on campus. Among those clubs represented were the Educators Guild, the Drama Club, IMPACT, Student Services, Campus Ministries, Dental Club, Filipino Culture Club, and African Studies. The various presidents and representatives of each club had various issues brought to the table, but one thread ran strong amongst all – a simple lack of representation. After September’s welcoming event, many of these clubs and organizations seem to virtually disappear off of campus, despite all efforts to remain an active presence. In an effort to begin putting a stronger emphasis on CUC’s culture and clubs, SA has offered to become an organizing force upon whom these clubs can rely – these organizations are not subject to CUC, but rather have the option of relying on SA as a central point in a network built to maximize the potency of each of these clubs on campus. SA will help in selecting dates for events to maximize attendance and in generating interest through advertising, not only for specific events but also advertising clubs presences in general. This campus is whatever we make it. Right now, the beginnings of some incredibly significant changes are being realized. The reorganizing and reformatting that’s beginning to take place is the necessary work to lay the foundation of CUC’s golden age. Page 5
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And a good day it is. t h e st e n c h o f s h e e r j oy by c h a n ta l j a n l eotau d
It took two “overripe” bananas (rotten!), one cup of homemade molasses, one bottle of stale lager, and four cups of sugar, one cup of juice, a shot of white oak rum, and a lot of hope to bait butterflies to one’s garden. Mixing the concoction of slime and juices, squishing it between my fingers, and the wafting stench that curled the hair in my nostrils really made for a great start to the week. Who knew that baiting butterflies would get you stares and glares from strangers who wondered why you smelled like a rum factory on Monday morning. I dipped a sponge into my mixture and hung it around the yard, spilling some on barks of trees and putting on a show of waterworks (rotten banana works, or stale beer never works) much resembling Mary Catherine Gallaghar on a good day, SUPERSTAR! Now we wait to see if we end up with swaying butterflies with slurs and blurs in their strides. Except that they were a no show. No butterflies to say “go home” to. Not even a Scarlet Peacock… and they are usually everywhere. Instead of butterflies, I managed to attract the biggest flies I’d seen yet. Was I just missing a little buttering up? ta-dumchh! Day two, three, four, five, eight, and twelve passed and still no butterflies. I tried the concoction with more sugar and less rum. Besides, wouldn’t the stale beer ferment the mixture well enough? I’m no scientist but something had to give. Maybe butterflies liked shadier areas? Maybe if I serve them on a plate garnished with fresh fruits for aesthetic, they’d feel appreciated and bring their buddies to have a good time in the yard. I imagined a sea of red fluttering over the hopeful garden. After losing a lot of sugar, time, and hope, I walked around for two weeks smelling like stale alcohol and rotten fruit and peered out at the freshly January 27, 2014
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dipped sponge I’d just replaced on the tree outside of my window. Not too long into day fifteen and I noticed eight Scarlet Peacocks, six females and two males (the males are darker red), and they brought a few families by the time I made my way outside. I was so overwhelmed with joy that I stood paralyzed to the spot and felt my body quake with emotion. A few white butterflies joined in on the feast and they had the time of their lives. After a while, I cleaned up the garden of sponges that fell in the brawl. During my cleanup, I noticed some fluttering around the base of rotten bark left from a dead tree. There I saw a pair of rare Blue Transparent butterflies. They truly resemble and live up to their name. I saw straight through their scaly wings into the forested backdrop. It was eerie and beautiful. I stared in a trance for as long as they lingered. Such love, glee, and hope filled me to the brim. I imagine that’s how the SA President and crew feel at times. After working hard to produce something to benefit the student body but there’s no bite to the bait. They mix things up, try different things, invest time and hope with good intentions and at times get their hands dirty and carry a stench trying to energize us. Fear not, it is a new year and things have been looking up in 2014 in terms of campus involvement. The time has come where students are taking initiative and interest in service, getting involved in representing the student body on various forums. Like the Blue Transparent butterfly’s appearance to the garden, many students are stepping up to the call and it’s a sight that can make one’s heart skip a beat (again, I’m no scientist, correct me if I’m wrong). Thank you for investing yourself in service. It took you long enough.
You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.
C.G. Jung The Inquirer
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Salt
From your Sa t h i n g s yo u n e e d to k n ow to j o i n t h e r e fo r m at i o n
“We are the salt of the earth,” “take it with a grain of salt,” and “add a pinch of salt for flavor.” Read The Inquirer for your twice monthly dose of “Salt,” with Marthe Paul. Cheers!
Alright, alright! I confess! I have mastered the art of complaining and naysaying, but I know I’m not the only one. When it comes to CUC, well, I was inspired by the upper classmen during my first year and I all too readily leapt into the band wagon of CUC related complaints headed for God’s ears. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! I mean, come one, the Internet… and this weather is not meant for human beings…. Tuition exorbitant… then there’s the cafe food. On top of it all, there’s yadee yadda, and etc., etc. This school is the worst! No other universities have such issues and their students never complain. Well, here’s a shocker: Being a transfer student and having attended three public colleges and universities, I can list my fair share of annoyances with other institutions. Few people know your name in big city schools. You blend in in a class of a hundred or more because you truly are just a number. There exist almost no second chances on assignments, tuition payments, or otherwise. Shall I go on? Basically, no two universities are created equal and none is flawless. Whew! With that now out in the open, I pose the question, what are the positive things about our school? I took the liberty to ask a few students, male, female, upper and lower classmen and women, and even a staff member to fill out a little survey enumerating only those positive things that make Canadian University College not so much unique or special but unique and special. I even went a step further to list them in alphabetical order for us so that the next time we begin to assume our righteous stance of criticism, we might instead choose to lurk on the positive side. Look up her history and you will find that CUC is sanctioned by God. She is His school despite our faults as students, administrators, staff, and instructors; she is a place to educate souls for this January 27, 2014
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world and the next, so let us strive to show her as much appreciation, respect, and gratitude as we can. I have made my point and now without further ado, these are a few our favourite things about our Alma Mater dear, listed in alphabetical order: Acronaires, attitude of service Banquet, basketball 4-peat Choir’s Christmas Concerts, Chinooks, Deer strolling about campus, Drumline, deans who care, Edmonton trips, eventful weekends Fantastic sunsets Goats! You’re all Goats!, God Horsing around in LVH Instructors that know your name Jesus, jogging in the morning Kind staff, knowledgeable teachers Lake Barnett Multiculturalism Northern lights, non-vegetarian cafe staff trying hard daily for us, nature walks, nurse on Campus Opportunities for ministry, OP 4-Life Postponed deadlines, Power-Up Queer personalities Rabbits hanging out, random presents in your mailbox, restful Sabbaths, Riverton Apartments Social Eyez, Small Classes, study tours Teachers that invite you home for Sabbath lunch, Theos hunting for wives, tobogganing on the hill, talented folks Using your Bible in class Voice in Dr. Matacio’s head/ears; vespers, Wonderful views, WISE Week X-alting God, X-tra people Youthful crowd Zany and zesty friendships; Zion: mountain top experiences
Questions: 1. Does your club have an executive committee comprised of students? 2. What would you like to see more of from your club/organization? 3. What is it that your club needs in order to func tion effectively on campus? 4. What is it that your club can offer others to help them function effectively on campus? Concerns: - Some students aren’t aware that these clubs exist. - Some students don’t know how to start up clubs. - There is a lack of funds to keep things going throughout the year. - There’s a lack of continuity in student leader ship in clubs/organizations. Solutions: - To get more awareness, we could plan out dif ferent nights assigned to specific clubs for their chosen event/activity. - We could utilize more social networking plat forms other than Facebook. - The SA budget has put aside money for other clubs/organizations to access to put things to gether for their respective clubs. - Encourage other students who have the po tential or interest to play a bigger role in the club in the future to play a smaller role now The Inquirer
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just to get their feet wet. Club and organization presidents should meet more often to collaborate on ideas and put things into action.
FYI - The SA Academic VP is more than willing to help clubs/organizations with their bylaws and constitutions to ensure continuity for future years. - The SA Social VP can help clubs/organizations plan and put together any events or activities they may have in mind - The Financial VP will help clubs/organizations with anything that pertains to money and bud gets. - The Communications VP is more than willing to help advertise anything that clubs/organiza tions need to get out to the student body. - Student Services is open to fully supporting all of our clubs and organizations with anything they may need: do not hesitate to ask. To-Do List 1. Compile a list of things your club would like to do/put together for second semester 2. Compile a wish list of things you wished you had put on first semester 3. Figure out what it is your club can offer other clubs/organizations
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Sunday at seven I love music passionately. And because I love
Upcoming Sundays at Seven
What we’re listening to
February 9 - Perchance to Dream- Les Voix Humaines with Charles Daniels
it I try to free it from barren traditions that
T h e I m p o rta n c e o f B e i n g S l i g h t ly C r a z y a n d A Li t t l e To o Pe r s i st e n t
stifle it. - Claude Debussy
by Ric h a r d M acD o u g a l l
There are little words to describe my appreciation for the Sunday at Seven concert that happened on January 19th. The words that were shared through song (and sometimes dance) were amazing. I’d personally like to invite you to each and every Sunday at Seven concerts that will be happening on our campus during this semester. Something that a musician can always appreciate is the appreciation of their music. However, Sunday at Seven’s are not the only performances that the Music Department of CUC provides during the semester. Evensongs are special performances that the Music Majors provide once a month, on Sabbath afternoons/evenings. As a Music Major myself, I cannot stress it enough that attendance of fellow students to these events means so much to myself and to the rest of the Music Department. Apart from seeing your friends perform pieces of music that are a part of their curriculum, the exposure to various forms of classical music is an experience that cannot be taken for granted. I urge, invite and encourage any CUC students, to come and experience the musical opportunities on campus. - Cody Shearer
Upcoming Evensong Dates Feb. 1 4pm March 1 5pm April 5 7pm CUC students attend free of charge!
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March 9 - Trumpet and Bassoon
Lately I’ve come to the conclusion that if I had more money, I wouldn’t actually have more money, I’d just have more records. Most people who don’t trust the banking systems store their money in gold. My preferred medium is vinyl. Except I never actually convert it back to money, it just stays vinyl. When the zombie apocalypse finally happens and the world’s banking systems go down and all the smug gold-hoarders finally have control of the economy, I’ll be sitting in my bedroom listening to Animal Collective’s Strawberry Jam double LP and wondering why this record was pressed as a double. There are literally two songs on each side. I once spent ninety-some dollars on a vinyl pressing I’ve never actually listened to properly of an album I’ve never actually listened to properly. But hear me out before you write me off as some sort of fanatical vinylpusher. The album (or box set, if you prefer) was The Flaming Lips’ 1997 release titled Zaireeka, and it has an incredible backstory. Once upon a time there was a little band with seven albums and one hit called The Flaming Lips. Through the eighties and the nineties the Lips were mostly a mediocre garage-rock band. They headlined a couple tours (even one supported by a then-unknown Nirvana), released a ton of albums, and went about their lives next-to-unnoticed by either the mainstream rock scene or the freshly blossoming indie scene. In 1993 they The Inquirer
dropped the single “She Don’t Use Jelly” and it became a huge hit – the Lips even featured on an episode of 90210 playing the song. Unfortunately the follow-up album, Clouds Taste Metallic, was another commercial failure, and the Lips fell off the grid again. Lead Singer Wayne Coyne was working part time as a cook and driving artistic force Steven Drozd was addicted to heroin (he’s clean now). At this point the Lips’ lead guitarist, Ronald Jones, left the band. This resulted in a very persistent Wayne Coyne searching for new and unusual ways to make music, and the results were known as the “Parking Lot Experiments.” Essentially Wayne Coyne recorded all sorts of sound onto hundreds of cassette tapes, rounded up a bunch of people with cars equipped with loud stereos for an “experimental interactive concert,” and stood on a crate in a parking lot with a megaphone “conducting” the ensemble. This led to a brilliant idea. The following Flaming Lips album, the afore-mentioned Zaireeka, consisted of four discs meant to be played simultaneously on four separate sound systems. You can chose where to position the sound systems and at what volume each should be. The mixing on Zaireeka is liberal enough to include lots of dissonance and strange reverb patterns, which means the position and volume of the four sound systems can actually completely change the listening experience. And while I own this album on vinyl, I haven’t had the chance to round up four sound systems and actually experience it in its entirety. Page 11
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What we’re listening to
the listener
cont’d
Adapted from the January 19 Sunday at Seven. A dynamic and diverse performance done by Musica Intima.
So why am I telling you this? Pretty much because I think it’s cool and I write for the Inquirer and you don’t. But for the sake of making this article relevant to more people than just myself, let’s come up with a few possible morals to this story: A) Ambition is not necessarily a thing that Brutus will murder you over. When Wayne Coyne pitched the idea to Warner Bros, he presented it as a ten-disc ordeal. Warner Bros didn’t quite go for that, but he looked crazy enough with his ridiculous hair that they decide to compromise and allow him the four-disc Zaireeka, provided he could do another proper album on the same budget (see: The Soft Bulletin). B) Some cliché about perseverance. But let’s be honest with ourselves, aren’t most clichés profound bits of wisdom that we’ve heard repeated far too often without
really understanding or believing?
w h at ’s o n
C) There are some really expensive records out there, and I am in fact a fanatical vinyl-pusher. Keep that on the down-low. But all jokes aside, allow me to say this in my serious voice: Most people would have given up long before seven records. Instead, The Flaming Lips went on to release some of the most important music in indie after Zaireeka, including The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and At War with the Mystics, earning two Grammy awards for the latter and one Grammy award for Yoshimi and a Broadway musical adaptation for the same. Also, if there are any Flaming Lips fans out there with a stereo system and a yearning to properly listen to Zaireeka, you know who to talk to.
“W ith
a
L ily
in
Y our H and ” - E ric W hit -
acre
“A L a C laire F ontaine ” - T rad . (A rr . S tephen S mith )
“S alish S ong ” and “I nuit H unting S ong ” T rad . (A rr . D erek H ealey
“Y our F ragrance ” - E d H enderson
“R ace I n ” - B attles “N o F uture S hock ” - TV “W olf ” - N ow , N ow
on the
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“L e C hant D es O yseax ” - C lement J ane quin
treal
“G oin ’ H ome ” - A ntonin D vorak (A rr . M ichael M urray )
“S leepwalking ” - M odest M ouse
“L och L omond ” - (A rr . J onathan
“F ugitive A ir ” -
“M y S pirit S ang A ll D ay ” - G erald F inzi
“B elle G lade M issionaries ” -
of
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“B utterfly ” - M ia M arkaroff “E l P aisanito ” - (A rr . W ard S wingle ) “D own to the R iver L ane P rice )
to
P ray ” - (A rr .
“P unjabi M arket ” - A my S tephen “B oy
and
G irl ” - TE ric W hitacre
“T he C rawl ” - S pirit A ndy H illhouse )
January 27, 2014
JanB.indd 12-13
The Inquirer
of the
W est (A rr .
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and bore our suffering,
Breaking bread
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
J e s u s, o u r s o u rc e o f u n i t y
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
by R a p t u r e
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
I want to show some ways in which we can connect to each other on this campus. And who is better to help us make this connection than Jesus? Jesus is our perfect example. If we undertake his lifestyle of selflessness, kindness, patience, and humility, we can connect. It was easy for Jesus, being a king, carries himself in such a way that people would become indifferent to him as it is with rulers. But because Jesus brought himself down to the level of the people, instead of acting like the king that he is (demanding respect), He was able to connect with the people. The Bible is littered with depictions of Jesus being there for people. I will give only a few examples because there were quite a lot. Remember the woman who was caught in adultery? The Pharisees brought her to Jesus in John 8: 4-5 saying: “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The Law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” In verse 8, the story continues: “Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.9 when the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”11“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Jesus showed mercy to a woman who was to be condemned to death by seeing to it that her life was spared. Also, in Matthew 19:13-15 talks about Jesus blessing the little children that came to him, regardless of the fact that the disciples were against it. Let’s look at it: 13 then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands January 27, 2014
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on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.” I can only imagine our lord and master Jesus preaching to a crowed of Rich men, big men in the military and vice versa and small children start gathering around him. I’m sure the disciples felt the children were bothering him or where a nuisance but Jesus defiantly didn’t feel that way. Jesus was patient/long suffering. Isaiah 53 gives a beautiful summary of what Jesus, a pure and righteous king of heaven went through while he was here on Earth carrying the burden of our sins on his shoulders.
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. [b] 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for
Isaiah 53 says: Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain
sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,and made intercession for the transgressors. Verse 2 is addressing the fact that Jesus didn’t walk among men as a King dressed in royal garb but as one of the Israelites. Kingly garb in which at first glance people would be in awe and bow down before you. Remember, Jesus rode on a donkey and not a horse, that a King would have been expected to ride on. Verse 3 talks about the fact that it was the same Jews who Jesus healed, fed, performed miracles for; the same Jews jeered him when he was carrying the cross to be hung on. Verse 5&6 talk about the punishment Jesus went through on the cross because of our sins. Verse 7 depicts Jesus’ humility as even when he was tried before the elders, being innocent himself, he did not talk back and quietly went to be executed. Verse 8 shows us that despite all that was happening to him, he was forsaken by those he called brethren. Verse 9 shows that though he was an innocent man, he was hanged on the cross like the two thieves at his sides. Verse 11 shows us that though he suffered, he still achieved his mission(it was not in vain) as the Messiah to ensure the prophecy was fulfilled (the prophecy to restore mankind back to God).Yet with all this Jesus was patient as he still carried out his quest to redeem us. Most importantly, Jesus is Love. Love is the greatest commandment of all. In fact, God’s law is love and his gospel peace. In Mark 12:28 one of the teachers of the law asked Jesus which commandment is the most important. And Jesus answered: 30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.” Romans 5:8 says: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because Jesus I love he is selfless, kind, humble and patient. Love encompasses Jesus’ character.
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e]; by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g] and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h] because he poured out his life unto death, The Inquirer
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