Hannah Poem - I

I

There once was a girl named Hannah
who wouldn’t eat her peas.

She stomped her feet and puffed her cheeks
and hit her hands on her knees.

Her mommy exclaimed, “O dear, O no!
why is Hannah acting so?”

Her father mused, “Hmmm hmm, hum hum,
I think I might have to spank her bum!”

With that, little Hannah, being bright, and quick,
picked up her spoon and took a lick.

At first, the taste produced a grim face,
but then she dropped her biased case.

The peas were yummy with a bit of butter,
so much so, that she asked for another



plate.


by todd and heather anderson

Humorous family Things

My inlaws are down to visit, and to take care of the baby while Heather and I scoot off to a TCF event. We were trying to decide what name Hannah could call Terry (Heather's father). He is not into the whole 'grandpa' thing yet. So we were cruising around looking for quality Japanese names.

We started out looking at the Japanese name for grandpa, which didn't want to stick. So we looked up alternatives. We came accross 'Hiro' which means wise. And then we found this gem:

Toshihiro Intelligent + wise


Heather's mother's comment was: 'That won't do...'

In any case, it was a quality moment in family happenings.

Gotta run.

T.

Cruise

"Jesus on the Lock"



"An eerie doorway"

The Pops

So, I am a father to a delightful little baby girl, whom we call Hannah Joy Anderson, or baby girl, Han (not to be confused with Han Solo), Giant Lungs, and a whole host of other things. She was born 9 lbs. 3 oz. at 1:49 am on Saturday, and she won't stop eating...

In any case, please check either Heather's facebook, or my own, for pictures, since I will reserve the blog for reflective words, and such.

We are well, God is infinitely good, and babies change your whole life.

God bless,

The Pops

Labour Part I

Currently at home in the early stages of labour. Heather's water has broken, so we went to the hospital. They told us we could stay or go, but to come back whenever we felt the need to. God is good, and the baby may be here soon!

Please continue to be in prayer.

Todd out

Heaven

Seamless joy
No conflict
Too human
To believe

Thoughts on anticipation

It is surely a strange thing to anticipate the arrival of your first newborn. Recently I have been reflecting on whether or not it is like waiting for Christ to return. Noone knows the date or time, there are signs of it, and there are a whole host of references that I would include, were I in a dangerous sort of mood, which I am not, but those of you who know your eschatology can deduce and infer all you like.

Needless to say, baby Anderson Mark II has not arrived yet, but plans are being laid for safe arrival if he/she decides to hold out for much longer. Heather is healthy and happy, out shopping with her sister and mother for who knows what! She is however at that classic 'I want the baby out' stage of pregnancy, which is sort of humorous, but really leaves you feeling helpless and powerless, but not impotent.

Ahem... That will be my final dangerous comment in this entry.

In other news, my battles with the wily Trent University Course Calender have been slowly advancing. A few victorious skirmishes have left me re-evaluating the situation, but hopeful of success in the overall campaign. That is to say that I am closing in on the final stages of overload request, and my course list looks different. I apologize Jer, I tried to keep Metaphyz and Epist but it got shot by Philosophy of Religion early tuesday morning in an ambush near a ravine. I tell you, these Registrar people are crafty, but they don't know what's hit them yet!

Butcher's Bill:

English 3150 - Studies in Shakespeare
Philosophy 320 - Metaphysics and Epistemology (for Jer)
MODL 303H - Germanic Linguistics

Current Holdings:

Full Year
ENGL 2000 (205) [Form and Context]
ENGL3250 [Studies in the Romantics]
PHIL 310 [Moral Philosophy]
LATIN 100

Fall
MODL 302H [Romance Linguistics]
PHIL 275H [Philosophy of Religion]

Winter
PHIL 245H [Argumentation and Rhetoric]
MODL 202H [Historical Linguistics]

If I get this excited about the process of registration this year, I wonder what my classes are going to be like...

Anyways friends, keep anticipating, because if you ever stop, you're probably dead.

al'Ander

Soon...

Its hard to believe, but the ticker timer for our new baby is coming to an end. Approximately 1 week is left before Heather reaches her due date. The calm before the storm is upon us. I have always found this to be the strangest kind of position to be in. It is similar to the moment before you are called to give your grade 6 speech. You are the next kid up, and are frantically flipping through cue-cards in hopes that you have memorized what you are going to say. In other ways, it is far from similar to this. Work keeps me busy, so the time has felt very fast. It is nearly August! Where has my summer gone? Alas! Heather is feeling well, and looks like a beautiful balloon. I love this woman. She is a wonderful helper, and she knows me super well.

I'm going to be a father. Woah. Pray for us friends, in the next week or two, and I will do my best to keep you updated!

Value God above all else, because he is reality.

T

The Sword and the Swan

Pending on God's miraculous work, and the Trent University English Department, I have tentatively planned the following schedule of mayhem (and possibly learning) for my final bout at beloved Trent. If this was all I had to do I would be busy, but alas, God has determined to discipline me or kill me this coming scholastic year, having given me the responsibility of a wife and child alongside the care of a community of bible-studiers. I used to get those foreboding thoughts of the intensity of the year to come when I was shopping for books for my courses. Now it comes 2 months before classes even begin...

Full Year

English 205 - Form and Context (I refuse to call it 2000)
English 3150 - Studies in Shakespeare
Philosophy 320 - Metaphysics and Epistemology (for Jer)
Latin 100 (for Boyne)

Autumn

MODL 302H - Romance Linguistics
PHIL 275 - Philosophy of Religion

Winter

MODL 303H - Germanic Linguistics
MODL 202H - Historical Linguistics

Besides the madness of an overloaded year (there is a chance I might be able to satisfy the requirements for English 205 without retaking it, thereby avoiding the madness) I am excited about these selections. The Latin is partly to stay in touch with Martin Boyne, partly to satisfy the 'Linguistics Emphasis' requirements, and partly to prepare me for Masters work at TBS. The linguistics is for my own interest, to see if I want to explore that further when dealing with theology. It is always helpful to understand the background of languages and the culture they developed in when dealing with theology, because many arguments and conversations in this day fail to listen adequately, so as to properly refute or affirm what is being said. Understanding language is the root to this. Philosophy of Religion is for sharpening my apologetical skills, because there is ripe opportunity to deal with issues like 'the problem of evil', 'the existence of God', and 'the relationship between faith and reason'. The other philosophy is partly because I am interested in understanding 'ways of knowing', or how people understand knowledge, and partly because I want to spend some time with Jer in some scholastic fashion. The Shakespearean English is my attempt to go as deep as I can in one area of English while at Trent. I think Tromly made me love and hate Shakespeare, and I don't think I gave it as much time as I should have (too many talks with Noah in the O.C. about everything).

One thing I was excited about when choosing courses was the degree of intentionality I was able to suffuse through my selections. My first year resembled Russian Roulette, and my second year was an attempt to do as much English as possible. If everything goes well, this year's selections will mark a development in the purposeful part of my character. Can anyone smell Discipline?... Oh, its only my socks...

Peace,

Todd

Continuance

Snail-backed words slime
Whale-bone swords white

What is a snail-backed word?
a slowwwwwww
HarD expression,
which is difficult to grasp.

Fast! Whale-boned swords come lasT
In strength and speed.
A club of white wasted in battle.

Stream of consciousness is good for nothing.
nothing.
nothing,


but...

sustaining the muscle we call Creativity,
which ebbs with silence and inactivity.

Crimson flames tie my tongue

Finally its the end of a work-week! I don't have very much to say at the moment, but I blog in order to keep up the writing. My current project for the week has suffered from my work schedule, which is dissapointing, but hopefully reconcilable. Discussions with my work-mates have lead down many paths, but one which has crossed the threshold from passing comment to conversation is the philosophy of humour. I talked with one coworker about the motives of humour, and why it is human beings laugh at things. In our context, we thought it was interesting that men tend to cover over concern for the well-being of another with laughter. Thus, it is easier to laugh at someone than for that person to find out you care. What gets me is the relative vulgarity of humour. Jokes are relegated to the inferior category of 'wit' and 'pun' if they are not cutting and/or sexual. And really, it makes me sad. We were designed to build one another up, and to glorify a powerful and awesome God in the words we use. Oh how my own tongue makes me to be a flaming hypocrite! Do you find your workplace is a warzone of acid thoughts and dagger smiles? How do you protect your mind and heart?

God's word. Read in the Psalms what David has to say about God's words. Then take steps to confront sin.

Todd

blah...

Its about 9 pm at the moment, and this week has been ultra busy at work. I had a chance to play some guitar, but I basically strung together whatever of Derek's I felt like playing. Its funny which ones I rotate through. My choice seems to be whatever I have not played in a while, so tonight it was: I repent, I want a broken heart, faith my eyes, high countries(sandra), laden with guilt(sandra), and now and then(sandra). Its funny because I don't listen to a great deal of music. I have only heard demo stuff of Ringing Bells, but I don't really desire to listen to it now. I play stuff over and over, and then go back and find some earlier work, like 'piece of glass' or 'the truth', or 'can't lose you'. Its like my influences go backward too because I am diving more and more into Bob Dylan, working on 'every grain of sand', 'my back page', and 'when he returns'. Well enough musical ramblings for now. For the musician in all of you readers, keep those calluses in tact!

the bard

rip.

Today, I was asked to take a trip down to the basement of my house. Upon arriving at the last step, I glanced around, noticing hideous spiders, and creepy appliances. On the way back up the stairs, having just retrieved the garden hose, I chanced to look to the right of the bottom stair. There scrawled on a piece of cardboard in black 'sharpie' were the quaint words: "Here lies Frodo, R.I.P."...

thanks Shane.

-Composed by Todd and Heather Anderson (each using one hand)

Recent Happenings

Well folks, life moves quickly when you dig holes all day... Work has been full of long hours, which means money and exhaustion. It is strange to be so busy when I was at one time so free to use my time as I pleased. Heather and I were able to go on a date downtown, which itself is a blast, but with her is far better. I suppose that means it was something like a large explosion... Strange analogies for time spent together. We were checking out bookstores on Water street, and I need to revisit in order to stock up on some classics, but here is what we decided to add to the growing library on Aylmer street.

Heather - Do it Yourself Gifts (a make it at home gift book idea, which included sewing patterns, and the like. Three cheers for domestication! I love my wife)

Todd
-William Wordsworth biography by E. Hershey Sneath
-Major works of Wordsworth (Red spine classics edition)
-10 Colloquies of Erasmus.

I had my eye on a biography of Augustine, and some of Thomas Moore's works, but now that I think about it, I either have to learn to read like Spurgeon, or be content with the fate of having far to many books on my 'TO READ' list. In any case, it was a splendid day which included a trip to Gator Pita, as well as the splendid experience of getting kicked out of a new patio, which had a very open concept but was intended for customers of "Dancing Blueberries". We ought to observe that one on another outing. Its always good to alliterate. Do you ever get that hankering to Figure of Speech? You lean over to your buddy and say, "Lets go personify some glass!" It sounds like stealing...

We also had a chance to visit Giant Tiger and see Caleb out at HVDC. It was there that we bumped into Dan and Rachel Sargeant, hung out at their house eating Rhubarb muffins and drinking Arab tea, speaking about the most important kinds of things.

My project for the next week is to spend time critically writing about some of the musical issues at Braidwood Bible Chapel. I plan on coming up with some solutions, so as to take practical steps in solving the problems rather than merely critiquing them. As my thoughts coalesce, I look forward to spending time on this, and hope that it may be useful. In one sense it is very foreboding, because I don't really understand the complications invloved. I do know that there are many people who are fired up about change in this area, and I hope to make it a little bit more concrete. Please pray about these things. I am submitting my work to Stephen June 2nd.

In any case, have yourselves a wonderful weekend, and stop by the house. Thanks to Ben and Mel for their lovely note!

Todd

Blur

Things are fairly busy in the Anderson/Lawton household. We are getting close to the 'unpacked' stage, but somehow I feel like certain things will never be unpacked. We are about to sit down to another supper, but before that, I just want to post that I am alive, and working long hours, kicking myself for the excess time wasted when I had it, and enjoying the new chapter in this existence. My wife is beautiful, and starting to waddle, which is awesome.

Paul wanted me to post that he is the 'King'. Of what I am not sure... Uh oh! Dinner is on the table. Hopefully will post again soon,

Peace,

Todd

School Hangover

Well, I had one of those weeks, where full-time work meets full-time school. For those of you who have experienced this at any level, you understand that it is a rough go. In any case, after a brief final bout with school I have emerged.

Throughout my class on Worship, I have been inspired to continue to develop musically. Part of this has manifested itself in the writing of new songs, and part of it has manifested itself in my desire to work through the Olney Hymns. So far I have written music to two songs, one of Newton's and one of Cowper's (/cooper/, not /cow-per/), and am considering a CD which may include them, as well as (and more importantly) speaking with the elders at Braidwood concerning this.

I'll post the songs in time. For now, my muscles are recovering...

Work

Praise the Lord for a job this sunny season! I am working for a landscaping company doing manual labour. Raking, digging holes, etc. Its sort of like a re-run of the gravel days at HVDC. Only this time I get paid!

That's all for now.

Contemplating good music

Check out this hymn by John Newton. The last 4 lines in particular strike me very powerfully, but take the whole thing together.


John Newton
8,6,8,6

Looking at the cross.

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear;
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopped my wild career.

I saw one hanging on a tree,
In agonies and blood;
Who fixed his languid eyes on me,
As near his cross I stood.

Sure, never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;
It seemed to charge me with his death,
Though not a word he spoke.

My conscience felt, and owned the guilt,
And plunged me in despair;
I saw my sins his blood had spilt,
And helped to nail him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did,
But now my tears are vain;
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the LORD have slain.

A second look he gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid,
I die, that thou may’st live.”

Thus, while his death my sin displays,
In all its blackest hue;
(Such is the mystery of grace)
It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mournful joy,
My spirit now is filled;
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by him I killed.

Sermon Outline - Exchanging Glory

OUTLINE FROM MANUSCRIPT

Intro
1) Pray FOCUS: verses 23&25 EXCHANGING
2) Story
3) Read Romans 1:18-32
4) Context – church at Rome
Vs 16-17 thesis: God’s righteousness revealed
Man needs this righteousness
5) Intro to Questions:
a) What is exchanged?
b) Why is it exchanged?
c) Effects of this exchange

Questions

What is exchanged?
1) Glory of Incorruptible God
a) Explain Glory – radiance, glow, shiny
WORTH, VALUE.
Example engagement ring
b) Display God – incorruptible, immortal, everlasting, never fading, eternal, Incomparable

2) An image in the form of corruptible man . . .
a) Explain 3-fold degradation
WORTHLESS
Quote - “copy of a copy of a copy” – Piper
Example - $100 bill → monopoly → child’s picture → photocopied

Why is it exchanged?
1) Foolishness of man (21-22)
a) Futile in speculations – because they don’t honour God they’re useless
b) Foolish heart darkened
c) Professing to be wise they became fools [Reversal of natural function of mind and heart]
2) God gave them up/over
- 3 times (24, 26, 28)
- Purpose is twofold 1) Reveal man’s sinfulness
2) Show God’s longsuffering

Effects of this exchange
1) God restrains (Example – dog straining on a leash)
2) Debasement (24, 26, 28)
a) Lusts of their heart – bodies dishonoured
b) Degrading passions – homosexuality
c) Depraved mind – Don’t acknowledge God
- Sin, knowing it is evil and give approval to others (APATHY)

Personal Application
1) Test your heart (What do we exchange?)
2) Nothing you can do to make Jesus look most beautiful to your heart – No matter your understanding
3) Plead with God

Annual Hairstyle

Alrighty folks. Its that time of year again. Hairstyle time! As many of you are aware, my hair has extraordinary properties. It defies gravity with a simple tilt of the head. It has the ability to appear outrageously messy and calmly cool within seconds. But it is that time of year when decisions MUST be made about the trajectory of this hair.

Should it be:
a) trimmed
b) buzz-cut
c) layered short
d) mullet
e) hold out for the dreads
f) mohawk
g) maybe just washed
h) b + d for the skullet
i) a + g for job interviews
j) none of the above

Send your votes in now!!