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10 Questions with ... Tim Timmons
September 21, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Discography:
- 2013 Cast My Cares
- 2015 Awake Our Souls
1. Birthplace, childhood, schools, jobs, current hometown?
My first 18 years were spent in Newport Beach, CA. Then I went all the way down (1 hour) to Point Loma (San Diego), CA for University. And then I came all the way back up (1 hour) to Orange County to live until September of this year when we just moved to Nashville, TN. I've been married to a total babe, Hilary, for the past 18 years (my Resident Assistant my freshman year by the way) and we have crazy cute kids Malia 8, Noah 6, Anna & Aaron 4 (surprise pregnancy/surprise twins= The Twimmons). I had the privilege of serving at Saddleback Church and then Mariners Church for 15 years as a worship leader. Oh yeah I was a server at a few restaurants and was fired from one! Another story for another time...oh and I spilled a glass of red wine on Billy Jean King once.
2. What does a normal day at home look like or you?
Well with 20 young kids, there's no need for alarm clocks. One will always let you know it's time to wake up! Hilary and I get them fed and ready and then I drive them to school. I'm always trying new ways of inviting them see where Jesus is at work in their day, which really helps remind me to simply be aware and on the look out, too.
I'll either come home and start working (songwriting, emailing, preparing, plotting, etc) or go to a songwriting appointment. By the end of the work day I will have most likely conspired with my Manager and Friend (who runs my life) and gotten my orders! Then dinner happens (attempting to get something green into my kids mouths). Then it's go time...bed time at the Timmons is an ordeal usually with tears, toothpaste on the carpet, dancing... questions like: Me "did you go pee?" Them, "I don't have to go." Me, "You're doing the pee dance buddy." Them, "but I don't have to go..." and so on!
Then Hilary and I talk through our days and hopefully make out!
3. What's the song that you just can't get out of your head right now?
In my view, Brooke Fraiser wrote one of the best prayers of our time. The bridge of "Hosanna" is a beautifully crafted melody and chord progression that sets up the prayer that I think is closest to Jesus' heart. Heal my heart and make it clean. Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me.
Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I am for your KINGDOM's cause as I walk from earth into eternity.
I hope my songs/prayers move people into prayer all day long like this one does for me!
4. How much do you travel, what are the challenges? How do you juggle life on the road with wanting to be home?
I travel a lot. There's no way that I could leave my family as much as I do and just simply "play music." Music is not the point for me. Music is the vehicle that I get to use to invite people into a new reality of Jesus. Moving believers about Jesus to become followers of Jesus through my life and music. My wife and I are missionaries. Whether she is cleaning up kids barf or I'm leading thousands of people in a concert, we are both aware of the greater mission that we've been given. Travelling/Touring is a blast but leaving my wife and kids is the hardest thing that I do. Everyday we ask Jesus to open the door for us to travel together someday. Lead on Jesus.
5. What artist or pastor has had the greatest impact on you?
As far as pastors or Jesus People, my dad (TimTimmons.com) and Dallas Willard have had the most impact on my awakening. They both have asked the hard questions and orbited around the religion part enough to whittle it down to JESUS and his available Kingdom. And as far as artists go, I'd have to say David Wilcox. If you have never heard of him or even worse never been to a concert of his then you're seriously missing out. He never says: "this song's about..." He is always telling stories and masterfully inviting you into your own story. His lyrics are genius, provocative and poignant. He's not trying to be anyone else but who he was made to be. I'm a Fan. Favorite record "How Did You Find Me Here" was foundational to my songwriting and my story.
6. What's the last book you read?
Jay Weaver (Big Daddy Weave) gave me a book that I can't stop reading...over and over again. THE FINAL QUEST by Rick Joyner . I'll be honest, when Jay gave it to me, the cover almost made me not read it, but because I respect Jay so much I started and couldn't put it down. Talk about opening your eyes to the reality of good and evil, victory and defeat, our role vs God's role, etc. Extremely profound.
7. Funniest or most embarrassing moment on the road?
Well most of them I can't share and the ones that I probably would share would offend someone...so I will plead the 5th!
8. Tell us about your current CD, releasing October 2nd.
My latest project, Awake Our Souls, was written out of my last 3 years of trying to figure out what it looks like to follow Jesus in all circumstances. Jesus seems to talk about one thing all the time, which according to Him is the Gospel; is the Good News. Where the cross is the vehicle into the Good News...THE AVAILABILITY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD! So if this is the point according to Jesus it's probably a good thing for His followers to seek it first. So this record explores the daily practicality of seeking first the Kingdom Of God.
9. What organizations/service group are you affiliated with?
My wife and I had sponsored kids through Compassion International for years and admired that organization from a far. And so when we were asked to partner with them in inviting more people to sponsor kids we jumped at the opportunity. Hilary and I just went on a Compassion trip to see all that they are doing with these kids and their communities and were blown away. When you sponsor a kid, you generally think that your money goes to give them food, but it does so so so much more with them. The local Compassion staff and church partners in these remote villages are not only feeding kids but loving and disciplining the whole child. Caring for their communities and their families. A feeding program is great in and of itself but addressing their other needs in the name of Jesus is the real beauty: spiritual, emotional, physical, etc. All to say we are truly in awe of the whole Compassion Program and honored to partner with them in Jesus' name.
10. Person You'd most like to have a discussion with, living or dead...deities excluded
I've had the privilege of spending time with most of my heroes (which is an amazing statement...wow) and for that I'm incredibly grateful. As far as living people that I'm intrigued by is Bono of U2. He is fascinating to me on so many levels. As far as people who are no longer with us, I would want to hang out with George Mueller. I've read so many stories about his life and how well he knew Jesus. He prayed as if he truly knew Jesus and walked with him. He seemed to live like the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lived inside him! #ImmaFans
Bonus Questions
1. Favorite Bible Verse....life verse?
A month prior to my life changing diagnosis of cancer, Jesus began preparing me. Every sermon, Bible study, devotional, small group curriculum, etc. seemed to point to the same place. There are those rare moments in life that I've been able to identify a clear message from Jesus and this was one of those. Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." At first it confused me because it just sounded like bad English (not the band). But after the 100th time hearing and reading it, it began to make more sense.
"Ok Jesus I'm listening. I've always thought that the 'life verse' thing was a little overdramatic but I guess you want me to take this one on as mine. My life is yours. Everything I am is because of You and for You. Ok, giddy up. Let's do this! Oh yeah and to die is gain. Cool."
Snap forward a month to sitting on my couch after coming home from the doctor's office with the news of my incurable cancer. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. This little life verse thing just got real. Could this invitation from Jesus still be true with this newfound reality of cancer?
It had been 15 years since I reconnected with a college roommate and his wife Kara. Kara is dealing with a fairly aggressive cancer and is somehow joyful in the middle of it. There is no reason that she should be joyful even through her pain and struggle, but they as a couple are filled with Jesus. She was telling me about Jesus' invitation to her through this simple verse, (I'll give you 3 guesses for what it was) phil. 1:21 For me to live is Christ to die is gain. She talked about how hard it is to see this cancer as anything good. How is leaving my kids a good thing? How is my death gain? Then she said, "but I am learning that death cannot be gain unless for me living is all about Jesus."
It's been 14 years of asking Jesus to reveal more of Himself so that my life would actually re-present Him in life and in death. He hasn't stopped answering that prayer.
What if Jesus is inviting us into this reality? What if this awareness is the sheltered port into His rest and purpose?
2. How & When did you become a believer?
Well if by a "believer" you mean, believing in my head that Jesus died on a cross and then rose again for my sins and that I'll go to heaven when I die, then when I was 4 years old. But if by "Believer" you mean, when did I begin to live as though the same spirit, power and authority that raised Jesus up from the grave lives INSIDE OF ME, then about 6 years ago! When Jesus said the word "to believe" he meant it: TO BE FOUND LIVING AS THOUGH IT'S TRUE.
3. What's the biggest "God moment" you've ever experienced? Personally or professionally, when has God shown up in a powerful way?
Well the biggest God moment I don't know, but I'm trying to live as though He's always here. Now sometimes I see His work in more tangible ways but I'm betting on His nearness all day long! Jesus: Emanuel GOD WITH US all the time! He's on the move!
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