. . .raise your hopeful voice. . .

I was so glad to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova win the Oscar for Best Song, I was so excited that I actually clapped my hands emphatically when they announced they're victory, I might have thrown in an arm pump as well, not sure, I can't remember, so I probably did.

If you haven't seen the move Once, you should. I really really liked this movie, this movie was up there as one of my favorites, not just for this year either. I think I just really liked it because it was such a simple movie, nothing big and showy, just simple. And the music is great, I can't stop listening to the soundtrack.

You need to see it. The End.

Man I miss those days. . .I think often about those days and think of how I have the best crew of friends. . and I miss them. . .


So Im helping teach a bible study on Wednesday nights for our high school group. . .and were going through the book of Romans. . .and this last week we went through chapter 5, which is a heady chapter, which could be said about most of the book. . .but in verses 18 & 19, he talks about justification. . .and I was reading a commentary on this and I found it to be intriguing and thought Id share. . .

"Christ's sacrifice on the Cross not only made possible "justification," but also "justification of life." Justification is not merely a legal term that describes our position before God; but it results in a certain kind of life. . . In other words, our justification is the result of a living union with Christ. And this union ought to result in a new kind of life, a righteous life of obedience to God."

I'll tell you why I like this. . .in my short 25 years of living and growing up in the church, we have this pandemic in our churches. . .which is not a new one and most leaders of the church recognize it. . but these few verses call us to have responsibility. . .there has been very little responsibility and even expectations for us from the church to have been reading and studying and wrestling through scripture. . .but this verse tells me. . .yes you have now changed with entering into a relationship with Christ, and since you have, there is an expectation of you living in this union with Him, a responsibility on you to live in this union and to have this life transformation happen.

I just like it because it tells us that there are expectations given to us as disciples of Christ and we have this responsibility placed on us. . .if we dont put effort into our marriage, it will fail.

New beginning

So here is to a new start. . .we finally got up to Anderson, IN and this has been my first week working at Bethany Christian Church as the new Student Minister. I know I just started so its to be expected. . .but I still feel like a fish out of the water a little bit, with not knowing exactly what Im doing or where Im supposed to be, but thats ok, that will come with time Im told.

So with this new beginning and new job, I am also hoping that this will allow me to be able to blog more than in the past, which has been little to none. So for the 3 of you that might check this periodically, maybe you'll have something new to read every now and again.

Im also excited about hopefully the time that I will have to read, since that is part of my job now, learning new things and ideas and approaches, so Im excited about my to read list. . .here are a few that are on that list right now, I have way to many, but a few for you that are towards the top of the list. . .

Simple Church by Thom Rainer. . .
Son of Laughter by Frederick Buechner. . .
The be with factor by Bo Boshers. . .
Contemplative Youth Ministry by Mark Yaconelli. . .
Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren. . .
The Idea of a Christian Society by T.S. Elliot. . .

and many more. . but that will do. . .Im also finishing up Jim and Casper Go To Church which has been a real easy read and an interesting little book.

-Tim