Non-academic.

I play the trombone, piano, bass and guitar in my spare time - when i was in Leeds i played for the City of Leeds Youth Orchestra, the City of Leeds Youth Brass Band, as well as my schools jazz and samba bands. I play bass for a band called Weapon in stirling. It's alright. I play a Washburn Force 5 (yeahh, 5 strings!!)

I DJ every now and then, playing some Breakbeat, some Trip-hop, chillout stuff mostly.

At the moment i'm pretty excited about encouraging other christians. Even though i've been having some rough times myself, I've been wondering if this is a gift God has given me. I earnestly feel the same as paul in this letter, and am very excited about the challenege of growth that it promotes:

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth (Ephesians 3:14-21)

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

I love that, and:

Freedom in Christ (Galations 5:5-6)

But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

It's really interesting that it says "What is important i faith expressing itself in love." That is a challenge to all of Christ's disciples - does your faith express itself in love? Is love not the principle fruit of our faith, and therefore essential evidence for all believers? I'd say so!

Anyway, i just thought i'd stick that stuff up because i'm quite excited about it at the moment.

Chris.