The Voice continues to dig deeper into what is on the hearts and minds of EBC students. For this issue, we took a massive theological question to the street and found some unlikely respondents who wanted to weigh in on the issue:

Predestination or Free Will? Where do you stand?

Fridge Tiger
I don’t have the free will to move my arms or legs, other larger beings move them for me. I believe that the people that move my arms and legs were predestined by God to do so long before the earth was ever created.

(self-portrait of) Angela Meinzinger
I beleive I was created for a purpose, sure. Whether or not I can choose what I do next or whether God has my next few steps chosen for me…I’m not sure yet.

Aloysius the Thumbtack Smiley Face
What!? Why are you asking me? This debate is ridiculous, it doesn’t matter, we’ll find out when we get to heaven. Will I be in heaven? I’m not pinning a picture of Jesus up right now…

Baby Steve
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Leftover Apple Pie
The creator knew me long before I was in the pan. She weaved my flour and cinnamon and apple chunks together in her bowl. She knew that I would be eaten and when I was going to be eaten too, she planned it sometime ago, probably closer to after lunch.

Stuffed Cow
I can do whatever I want, whenever I want baby! There’s no stopping me. You can’t stop this!!! Can you feel it? I said, can you FEEL it?

“Fimo” Mike & Mary Salvatore
Yes, God knows everything that is going to happen, and yes, we choose what we are going to do. When we got married, we chose each other. God knew that was going to happen…but being together is our choice and we’re very happy with our decision
Life was nice before we dried when we could still move though… we’ve been holding hands in the same spot for almost one year now.

Please feel free to send in any photos you have of our community!

By Jordan Vetro

Here in the Western world, we have developed a very peculiar sense of faith. The institutional nature of our Christianity has shifted the nature of our church, and of our personal Christianity as well. This is something I’m sure any reader can agree on. We have people of different ideas chewing each-other out left right and center because nobody can figure out the right nature of Christianity when countries who are experiencing God for the first time seem so easy in a pure and beautiful Christianity.
In this wonderful post-mod Christendom that we have set up over here, “intellectual” questions of faith start to arise. Questions, that, although battled out among scholars for centuries, have taken a new and peculiar precedence in our church today. Questions like “why do bad things happen to good people?” or “why did God make this happen to me?” The Western World has a lovely sense of faith. Cut-and-paste the stuff you like together into the Christianity you like to keep. And although we’re here in Bible college, we can have the same kind of faith crisis..
The whole idea of blind faith is out of the questions. We’re no longer certain of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This isn’t an attack on works of the holy spirit, or divine intervention or anything. This is something very different. I think we have a bad habit of interweaving our faith in God with our faith in other things, which is why our faith gets so beat up when something goes wrong.
Have you, dear reader, ever had a friend who fell away because they felt Christians were acting very Christ-like. Examine that situation. If someone walks away from Christianity because their pastor lets them down, or their parents let them down, then who did they have faith in? Many people have faith in their church. It’s a twisted idea of works-based faith. Then the church splits, church leaders get caught in a scandal, and a Christian walks away. Now at the same time, the church leaders have a lot to answer for, but that Christian who walked away becomes an idolater, because they believed in people before they believed in God. God was an aspect of their relationship with their parents, their relationship with their youth group.
Could all the Jobs please raise their hand? Could everything fall away. Could the friends we trusted most treat us like garbage? Could the people who brought us to faith disappear? Could we survive with just God? Could we go sit out in the desert, doing nothing for God, knowing that he would take care of us? Could we douse the alter in water and wait for fire? Could we walk on the water? Can we look at God’s plan instead of what people have done to us.
Direct faith in God is so much easier, truer, and, of course, more rewarding than faith that has to pass through other people first?
Even those of you who have figured this out, teach it to others. Because it is a plague that moves through the hearts of so many Christians today.
People who I thought were pillars of the faith have left churches in anger and just stopped going to church altogether. Friends have left church out of rebellion. It tears me apart to see people who I respected be so shallow.
So I challenge you, first, to be in your Bible always, pray without ceasing. Stay close to God, get to know him, and you will not have a shallow faith. You will keep a direct line to God. Then encourage others to do the same. If we put our hands in God’s, instead of standing at the end of a long chain of people, there is no chance we can break away, he’ll be holding you too tight.

By Wes Hague

The night is silent calm and cold
As vast starry skies unfold
Millions of stories yet untold
In this Galaxy I behold

Few could know what could exist
Beyond the stars, and shiny mist.
What wondrous stories could be told
Of Heroes, and Warrior long old.

A wandering mind, a beautiful land
Majestic Towers, and golden sand.
Evil deeds, and darkened plots
Turmoil, do some oft sought

A clash of weapons, the clang of war
Heroes endless battles lore
Yet it all fades, and goes away
As I return to Earth, for yet another day.

By Corrie Kessler

The crosses honour the poppies, not the other way around.

Sometimes I forget that beauty and breath came before sacrificial
crosses and death.
The facts of dying and living have overwhelmed me before. Especially
when personal experiences and news articles seem to whittle down
tributes to life.
But this November 11, 2007 I remembered that the scale of life is
meant to be balanced.

I watched the memorial service on Parliament Hill this Remembrance
Day’s morning.
The act of commemorating life that is lost is important. Holding
ceremonies to show thankfulness for lives that have been sacrificed
“so that other’s might live” is honourable. But personally taking that
gift of life and freedom and running with it, choosing to be fully
ALIVE in all areas of life, that is a whole different level of
gratefulness.

I experienced different emotions during that televised memorial
service. I felt pride that my nation would be thoughtful enough to
remember with wreaths all the different ethnicities that fought as
well as the current men and women who are serving in the military and
public service jobs. I was grateful to people that give their lives to
help others in our day to day society despite being under appreciated
or supported. I was frustrated at the sheer numbers of wasted life
involved in war. Sometimes it seems like there is a cycle where people
sacrifice while others live unaware or die needlessly so that others
live peacefully.

Just as I was wondering “Is there another solution?”, a soldier who’d
had his legs blown off in the Afganistan peace keeping mission was
interviewed. He was smiling as he mentioned his grief over loosing his
fellow soldiers over the last two years and his willingness to use a
wheel chair because he understands “that’s part of the deal”.
Something about the incongruity of his smile and his situation
triggered an answer to my question: Poppies grew in Flanders Fields in
defiance of the bombed out earth of no-man’s land. Graves and crosses
were planted to honour that wild red “clinging to life”. Poppies don’t
represent soldiers deaths, they represent their bids for life.

Life comes from somewhere else than death and is more vibrant and
precious in contrast to it. What isn’t as obvious is that people can
make choices about how they relate to death. It is as equally possible
to choose not to die ’till your done livin’ as it is to be dying the
whole time you are alive. There is a marked contrast in the
life-approach of people who have learned the difference.

Physically, our bodies just can’t stay “alive” forever. I get that.
But in the meantime, we can make decisions to be fully ALIVE every
time we wake up in them. We can look at our life styles and see if our
habits bring the symptoms of life or death to ourselves and others. We
can choose to find out exactly who we were created to be and try to
reach that full potential by acting like the Life Giver. We can
celebrate being alive and being blessed by building strong
relationships, celebrating family and successes and applauding
people’s sheer effort - whether they “win” or “lose” their personal
battles.

Sometimes our celebrations will take the form of attitudes or actions
of sacrifice. That might mean choosing careers that get into all kinds
of muck beside people so that they can get out. That might mean
practicing ethical business models that make money so that justice can
be funded elsewhere. That might mean swallowing our pride and being
willing to be wrong for the sake of a relationship. Choosing to give
everything so that death can not win, whether during the day to day or
as the ultimate sacrifice, is the polar opposite of wasting life. Jesus
did that.

I don’t know if there is another way to resolve issues of death and
war other than to individually allow the fullness of life in our own
personal circumstances to out-weigh the cost of death. Sacrificing
isn’t pretty and it hurts a lot: Just like the process of birth.
The experience of sacrificing can feel unnecessary or
under appreciated, but it’s easier to handle when there is camaraderie
in it. When we purposefully honour the gift of life (and by extension
it’s ultimate giver) we give meaning to the excruciating and
inexplicable. We push back. We balance out the scales in the same way
that handfuls of poppies outweigh war and death. Every time.

-Corrie Kessler

By Jordan Vetro

Socrates did once say “I am aware of nothing, but the fact of mine own ignorance.” It is my pleasure to announce to Socrates that there is now a second thing of which we may be aware, no matter how ignorant we be, we can find rest in the fact that Simon Boucher is more so. My fellow students, it is well nigh a year that I, so young and impressionable at the time, so full of spark and dreams, felt the brutal force of the callous punishment and most sadistic character of Mr. Boucher. (See The Senseless Brutality of Simon Boucher)Him and that pretty hair of his. Those of you who were among our readers last year will be made aware of his violent and ruthless behavior, which lies dormant until the night exposes its naked depravity. He, of course responded with very cruel words (see The Wrongfully Accused Speak Out), however, in keeping with the nature which I have already painted, his response lacked any credibility.
But, I hold no grudges. There is within me no ill will towards the man for his cruel violence. I simply write now, out of necessity, to bring fair and true warning to those on campus who would go to seek Mr. Boucher’s counsel. There is a great and unfortunate secret that you must come to understand if you wish to see Simon for who he truly is. Simon Boucher is shallow. It’s quite true. Shallower than a teacup. More shallow than the saucer it sits upon. While posing as a senior student, a source of knowledge, literary credibility and moral understanding, Mr. Boucher has somehow been able to use twisted words and that cheeky smile of his to coerce unsuspecting innocents into seeing his as a source of good will. Men gaze jealously. Women swoon. All for a character, put on by a man who, in his deepest and innermost self, has all the understanding of life and courtesy of character as a sofa.
Obviously, it is not from my own bitterness or jealousy that I take pen in hand now. I am simply convicted. Convicted to the core that the good students of Emmanuel Bible College have a right to understand who Simon Boucher truly is. So that they may be able to steer clear and remain uncontaminated by the misfortune and ill that festers in his wake. Women should know, this is a man not worth pursuing. Men must be aware, this is a man not worth emulating. Dare I say, even are good professors must question whether this is a man worth educating. Or would any attempt to expand his mind simply wash away in the abyss that fills the skull of this, the most crude and hollow of specimens.
And now one must ask, how is it that I, who do all that I may to avoid this man, be so painfully aware of the most sinister aspects of his character? How am I the one to whom has been revealed all the horrendous truths about Simon Boucher? Well now the truth comes out. He called me fat. He said it strait out too. “George, you’re fat.” Like seven times.

From the Editor’s Desk
Welcome to Issue V of your favorite EBC newspaper. Thanks very much to those of you who attended last week’s VOICE chapel. To those of you who didn’t, we wrapped up by giving people an opportunity to share their voice. Here (at random) is what we got. Thank you all for believing that God has given you a Voice.

“I is not important. God will make fishers of men, but you must follow him. Trust in the Lord and he will make your path clear. God Bless.” - Matt Dwyer

“Pray Because there are still people who don’t know God.
Pray because there are still wars going on.

The worst thing that can happen when you step out in faith is you will learn something.” - Tim Chester

Thanks again to all our contributors. And remember, you have a Voice. Please, feel free to submit an article, or use our VOICE OF THE PEOPLE PAGE under the heading “Don’t be silent” to contribute, and show the community that you have a voice.
God Bless
Jordan Vetro

In This Issue

Fall Coffee House: Wes Hague

Curling Coverage: Rachel Neumiester

Creative Corner: An Endless Tale: Wes Hague

Devotionals: Where’s the Faith? Jordan Vetro

Opinions and Editorials: Remembering to Balance the Scales: Corrie Kessler

Simon Boucher: The Inhumanity Shall Never End: Jordan Vetro

By Rachel Neumeister

The rock was heavy. The shot was tough. As his body heaved the rock forwards, his sidekicks braced themselves as it came hurling towards them. The cold air gripped all three as, for a moment, the rock was heading straight for the Button in the House.

Two Saturdays ago, on November 3rd, 2007, a group of adventurous Emmanuel Students traveled to Ayr Curling Club. It wasn’t as easy as they make it out to be on TV. Mr. Scott Dennison, our expert curler, made it look much easier than it was.

The group was given a customary boring speech beforehand regarding safety and rules; proceeding which they were broken up into teams of four. Each member got eight throws per game, trying to get their rock closest to the target about 100 meters down the ice. And let me tell you, it takes grace and entire body control and coordination to get the rock to go the right speed in the right direction.

A break between games saw feasting on pizza and pop.

Personally, the most fun part of the event was running and sliding great lengths on the ice with a piece of tape on the bottom of my shoe to cut down on friction.

As for the song, it was a marketing ploy, which succeeded for the 19 individuals who went. Maybe next semester it will get you too.

Wes Hague on the Scene

The Coffee House was another big hit this year, with everything from Instrumental Music, to Drama, and poetry recital, the event had people captivated for well over two hours if not much more. At 7:30 it started in the Chapel Building, and the theme was set. Soft lights and candles flickering on the tables set the mood for the excellent night. The Night was started with piano music by Graham Sweet, and then song by done by Angela Meinzinger, with Corrie Kessler on the Piano. What to say of the skit that followed; well I don’t think I will be able to talk to Julie-Anne Wideman without somehow picturing a white garbage can on her head. The skit was well done, others involved were Katelyn Unger, Jordan Vetro, Tim Grace, Jason Cameron and Melissa Doerr. Another skit would be performed much later featuring Jason and Julie-Anne which, again, had the crowd laughing loudly. They all did quite an excellent job, and had the audience laughing. I may still be looking for the Kangaroo in the picture of the last supper.

Poetry reading was still there this year, with Tim Grace leading the pack with his rather entertaining haikus, Curtis gave us to excellent works of poetry, and Joanne Shennan was the last with a dramatic recitation of the Slaying of the Jabberwok. Robert Moody, a one year student from two years ago, showed up with a friend Scott and performed a number of musical numbers. Other music numbers were done by Tabitha Rozeluk, Sarah Lein and Mat Cardases, Howie Allen and Mike Sanders. Finally finishing off the night and grabbing the last bit of enery this crowd had, which was a fair bit, a group of our Wideman Brothers and Warder Boys performed Beatles songs. This cast included, Jordan Vetro, Andrew Martin, Robin Antoine, and Andrew Wallin.

A lot of skill and talent when into the entire night. Whether it was the talent displayed on stage or even the setup before hand to set the entire scene, this was definitely a highlight of the semester, and will be remember for some time.

TORONTO - Parents and social workers say oppression and mistreatment in schools might lead to black and white separated schools in the Toronto area as the only way of protecting children.

BANGLADESH - Last week, a cyclone in Barguna Bangladesh, claimed a death toll that has recently reached past 3,100

Canadian Olympians are now to be paid for their medals, with Gold medalists receiving $20, 000

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