The greatest albums ever

Best albums ever, perhaps, according to me...

(just so you know I love live concerts made into albums)

Simon and Garfunkel - Concert in Central Park

The interaction you get to hear between the two artist on stage is amazing. Like they say, "there is nothing like a neighbourhood concert". Simon and Garfunkel give us stories, it is like every song is another narrative, it makes you feel at home.They were and still are amazing.

Babyface - MTV Unplugged 1997

Mainly a song writer for R&B ans soul artist, babyface is a musical genious. Besides that, the songs that he records himself, comparatively there are only a few are masterworks, in which he cuts deep by talking about pretty significant issues. Songs like How Come, How Long, and Change the World are just... brilliant.

David Crowder Band - A Collision

They are just awesome, they combine, old school traditionals, hymn's, and their own songs with key-tar's, synth's, weird voice overs and Jesus. Let's say it's a beautiful collision of melodies, words, creativeness, and meaning.

Bob Dylan - The 30th anniversary Concert Celebration

Bob is brilliant, on this double-disc great legends come together with him and vocalize some of his greatest tunes. People like Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Johny Cash, Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, Lou Reed, and of course Bob Dylan himself give a new character to each song, it is really refreshing, in an old folk songwriter kind of way.

Nelly Furtado - Folklore

She reached her artistic and musical peak with this album. Songs like Try which became quite popular are honest and brutally open stories. Saturdays the best song on that album (according to me) is a one-time recording without any practicing in which the laughing and mistakes are not cut out, it shares the story of her youth helping her mother clean hotels on saturdays. Please old Nelly come back, I don't like the promiscious girl you are trying to be.

Thanks Felix.

Earth Hour

We had a Earth Hour party at our house, I don't think we turned on any lights until like 11pm, it was awesome, although I missed the first part it included music, stories, lots of candles, even more laughter, brownies with cream cheese (what an amzing idea), and many good friends.

Here are some pictures of what Earth Hour in Toronto looked like

This is just before Earth Hour an average evening in Downtown Toronto

This is during Earth Hour, Lots of lights still on, but many of them are off.

50 Things I Love

In no particular order


1. Hamilton, and its rough urban texture

2. Coming home to a meal of fish, fried patatoes, and green beans

3. Looking at anything by Frank Lloyd Wright

4. Listening to some live music at the FRWY

5. The excitement that is found in a service planning meeting for CITB

6. Sunday lunches, sometimes simple, sometimes extravagant, always delicious

7. Giving a tour of the Academic building at RUC during a Campus visit Day

8. Any form of a smoothie - there is nothing like fresh fruit being mashed and chilled

9. Reading books that unsuspectingly show my God's truth somehwere in creation

10. Learning from people and worshipping as one church through the True City movement

11. Prayer time on Tuesday evening with the CITB prayer team.

12. Trusting God - though it can be o so hard...

13. Walking in Union Station in Toronto - and exiting on Front St. right across The Fairmont Royal York

14. Talking to family who I have unfortunately not talked to in a while

15. Coming back to Holland - every country has its own smells, sounds, tastes, texture, etc

16. The outlook in life of being able to root in Hamilton

17. Seeing old pictures from High School or Grade School

18. Exploring new cities - Recently that has been New York and Vancouver

19. Road Trips

20. The beauty of the Thunder Bay area

21. McFlurry's with Smarties, Oreo's, and Caramel

22. Being part of a church community such as First

23. P-eer Luck - a combination of prayer, peers, food, and beer in one evening, you should try it

24. Scott Mission Camp - A summer that was hard for me, but I learned a lot

25. The fact that God willing I will be an uncle soon!

26. The Salomon R. Guggenheim building - even if it is under construction when you are there...

27. Indian food - Masala grill, Thunder Bay anyone?

28. Coffee - see previous post

29. Friends - sitting and talking, praying, making puns, being challenged all in a good place

30. Proffesors who engage students to think in ways that might hurt you and change you

31. Community - investing in people, place, God, a neighbourhood

32. Pancakes - any variety, any time altough Finnish pancakes at the Hoito in Thunder Bay are superior

33. Praising God through prayer, song, voices, art, movement in a worship service

34. Putting things into perspective

35. Listening to a Jazz concert on the top of a mini-van just outside the park

36. Simon & Garfunkel - I hope they will do another tour so I can actualy see them

37. Sitting by a fire (inside or outside)

38. Sidewalks, parks, squares, gardens- they are the best places to meet new people

39. Handing in a paper that I know is good work

40. The fact that I have no clue what I am going to be doing 10,5, or even 2 years from now (although it will probably be in Hamilton see #16)

41. Snow - and the endless possibilities it brings (snowboarding, sleading, snowball fights, being in wonder of the beauty of creation)

42. Earth Hour and the back to simplicity community it brings

43. Coffee dates, to keep in contact with each other and to keep accountable

44. Nature - walking through it, under it, within it - seeing beauty

45. The ability to see amazing art, theatre, and music at Redeemer on a constant basis

46. Looking through old photos - brings back memories

47. Summer reading - what a great concept

48. Being grateful that after a crashed computer - your hard-drive is still alive

49. The upcoming month seems exciting - becoming an uncle, finishing 3rd year, summer starting, blue jays game, Rogier visiting, etc.

50. Any suggestions... I am sure I missed something even though I did it in four intervals

- Inspired by Comment Magazine

Redeemer Gold, Raptors blow out, and March Madness

Lots of sports news...

25 years after its humble beginnings Redeemer University College wins their first golden medal within the OCAA. I love this school, and I love the fact that a school of about 850 people can beat a school with about 15000 students in the Indoor soccer finals! Redeemer wins gold! The OCAA website tells us, "No Redeemer men’s tournament or league team has ever won an OCAA gold medal…until today when the Royals dethroned the Humber Hawks 2-1 in the Championship final. "

Yesterday I was at the Raptors game. And I guess it was historic - 96-54 for the Raptors against the Heat. Biggest margin of victory for Toronto ever, lowest points against for Toronto ever, and third lowest points (54) in the NBA ever scored by the Heat. The icing on the cake was Jamario Moon's sick dunk > see Video.

And also March Madness started today! College basketball is awesome. North Carolina all the way!

Coffee

This year I have grown a great appreciation for coffee. I love a nice bold cup of coffee from *bucks, Second Cup, of the FRWY (freeway) especially. Even more so I have fallen in love with the smell and taste of a home brewed cup of coffee. Whether it means that Steve puls out one of his amazing espresso creations or it a home brewed cup of coffee from our beautifull blue coffee press - the taste is superior. As you walk into the room you can start anticipating the taste and the aroma of the coffee. Especially when we have fresh ground coffee, it makes me excited.

And although home made coffee is an art in itself and taste amazing, this looks pretty good as well.

Thank you

Thank you Jesus, for making life a bit less academically busy, while other things were crazy. Two Campus Visit Days, Banquet, and Church in the Box in four days, makes me quite tired! Imagine another load of papers or such on top of that.

Campus Visit Days for me have been something that I have and still absolutely love. For me it is quite easy to still resonate with young people coming in, wondering about Redeemer, University, and life in general. It is awesome to just stand by there side, show them around, answer questions from concerned parents, etc.

Dr. Wolters highlighted the passion of palm sunday. Christ the King does not come without a Christ who suffered. There the one and the same, and so our lives are going to be full of times where we confirm the kingship of Christ or where we suffer alongside with Christ.

Right now Matt VanderVecht, Ben Bouwman, Jared Dalton, and I are looking into places that we ould possible live for the summer. Pray with us that we will find a place where we can get a better understanding of what Hamilton is about.

Currently Reading: Cries of the Heart - Ravi Zacharias
Current most loved song: God of this City - Christ Tomlin
Current best food - Anything involving Rice!
Current time: 00:01 - time to go to bed

Earth Hour

I just checked some news items on Toronto, and in case you didn't know. Toronto is participating in Earth Hour 2008 big time. March the 29th all city buildings will power down a well as businesses, hotels, individuals, and whoever else. More than 50 cities, 1,000 businesses, and 20000 people in Canada have signed up, Toronto being the main partner in Canada. They will celebrate with a "carbon-neutral" unplugged concert that will feature Nelly Furtado and others. I think it would be cool listening to an unplugged concerts in a "dark" downtown Toronto.

While it could be seen as cities, businesses and people being trendy and being environmentally concerned, still it is happening. All are powering down for 1 hour. Hamilton signed up as well, however, I have not heard of any events or such here. Who knows, we are still 20 days away.

Maybe one day all those lights will be off at the same time and the world won't look like this at night.

Soon

Soon...
I will see the Raptors play
I will be an uncle
I will be done third year
I will see Hot Chip in concert
I will be moving downtown for the summer (anybody know of a place)
I should pick up my Dutch passport
I will have to go to bed > because there is church tomorrow morning

All within 2 blocks

I want to share with you a but about one area of downtown hamilton. Most people have probably been there at some point, it is the heart of the city. I want to share with you some thoughts about the blocks surrounding Gore Park.

In 1973 there was still a building in Hamilon Called the Birks Building. In fact, Oscar Wilde called it "the most beautiful building in all of North America," it was demolished in 1973 despite major protests. Below is a picture of the building, which is now replaced by a rather stale, concrete and glass version of the bank of Nova Scotia.


However, in recent decades right across from the location the Birks building was, the Piggott building has been saved, and is now deemed one of Hamilton's most beautiful if not the most beautiful buildings. The picture below, shows the upper levels, as well as part of the stale building that replaced the Birks building on the left.
Currently Hamilton is in another discussion, this time on the Lister block building, about 1,5 blocks North on James and King William St. In 2005 great plans for revitalizing this building were announced, the costs now seem a bit higher than anticipated and discussion about demolishing the building are back. Below, the Lister Block.
Last week the Hamilton Spectator reported on the Royal Connaught hotel to be revitalized. By Toronto developer Harry Stinson. All these buildings are within 1-2 blocks of Gore Park, the heart of the City of Hamilton that can be described as an intimate place full of opportunity. If Hamilton is going to become this great urban centre West of the GTA, I feel like redevelopment in this area is vital, revitalizing the Royal Connaught and the Lister Block are good first steps. Tackling the massive concrete square of the Farmer's market, Library, Jackson Square, and Copps should follow immediatley. Luckily there is much discussion on this, hopefully it will be fruitful. Look at this picture of Gore Park currently. What if we can make this entire neighbourhood like this? What if we can maintain and continue to give the heart of the city a distinct urban texture. A public place that is alive, active, and contagious to the communities around it. All within about 2 blocks of this park. I think it is an opportunity we should cease. I think the heart of the city of Hamilton can be a place where we can engage with culture, a place that community can be formed, a place that needs to reflect God's glory.

Fuzzy February / Februhairy

In the month of February we (some friends and myself decided not to shave. Here are the results, day 1 and after day 29. I think I was pretty cool with it at first, now I am kind of shocked. Well, hooray for the best that a man can get (Gillette), so we can do some trimmin'