honestly

how do you feel about honesty? i for one go back and forth on the issue. there are times when i want others in my world to be completely honest with me and others when i would actually want to hear what i want, (my self confidence ebbs and flows like the ocean tide.)

it's like that in my relationship with Jesus as well. what is amazing to me is the gentleness with which he always approaches. like a parent with a cloth to clean a scraped knee.

tonight was one of those times and i think that these pictures speak louder than any words could...

coolest today

coolest thing i've seen all day...

good timing

timeline of the last four days...tell me that God isn't protecting me...

Friday night - AC breaks
Saturday morning - AC is fixed
Sunday at noon - AC breaks again
Sunday afternoon - AC is fixed...again
Sunday afternoon - Home Warranty is purchased
Monday - All is well
Tuesday at noon - AC breaks...really bad this time
Tuesday right now - thinking the home warranty was a good call.

New AC coming in just 29 days...

it's getting hot in here...

this past weekend, we fought the good fight of trying to get the AC working in our house. we got home on Friday to find that it was about 87 degrees in our house and it was too late for anyone to come out and fix anything so we slept the most uncomfortable night's sleep ever!

saturday a guy came to fix it.

yesterday we had to have someone else come and actually really really fix it.

all that to say, it was amazing to see how there was no thinking about whether or not we would have it fixed, if we had to make sacrifices, we would without any issue because we HAVE TO HAVE AC.

i wonder how much less my passion and desperation for Jesus is compared to how much i love the air conditioning in my home?

what sacrifices is He asking me to make? what excuses am i giving Him?

try un-harder

one of the biggest lies that i have ever believed was that in order to be more Godly or a better Christian i needed to TRY HARDER. this cannot be so. our culture today does a great job in keeping this going. have you been to the self help section of barnes & noble lately?

there is no way to marry the idea of self help or self improvement with walking with faith. the key i think to the christian life is not to try harder, but to give up. that's who God wants to use...those who have come to that divine point in their lives where they realize that there is no use trying to get through the sifting that this life brings about on their own.

today, i again choose to try un-harder.

fame

dustin, the guy who is doing the voice over in the back was on my basketball team last year. he is famous now. wander if i'll get any perks??


Catalyst / Geico Spoof from Catalyst on Vimeo.

follow me on twitter

you can now follow me on twitter. just go to...

http://twitter.com/brettmoore

see you out there.

old school hillsong united

more than life.

the farm

for those of you who know me, you know that golf is a big part of my life. i grew up playing the game with my dad and grandfather so it has always been a place where sacred relationship are forged and cultivated.

one of the coolest places that i have found around here to quench my passion is a place called, "farmlinks," in none other than sylacauga, al. i know it sounds like it is in the middle of nowhere and it really is but just listen to what you will find there.

also- it is a turf management and testing facility where other course designers can come and see and actually feel what different types of grass is like on the course.

they also partner with TORO and SCOTTS to make the place one of the best groomed courses in the country.

along with all this you will also find

1.) different grass on every hole and tee box
2.) a par 3 with 200 feet of elevation change from tee to green
3.) lavender scented ice towels on each 9 for those hot days
4.) chilled apples on the first tee
5.) free drinks, food, snacks
6.) complimentary range balls
7.) the nicest practice facility in the southeast not on a pga tour course
8.) some of the most cordial staff ever

so, drop what you're doing, book a date, and check out the farm...for more information check out: www.farmlinksgolfclub.com/

martes

for those of you who don't know, martes is spanish for tuesday.
here's what's on the radar for the next couple of days...

1.) back to the Wed. night routine, getting ready, prepared, excited.
2.) 3 weeks until camp.
3.) finishing new curriculum for a "new believers" class we are starting in the fall for MSers.
4.) the farm (post later with description)

also- yellow dart- it was 25 and then me. wouldn't put myself in the greatest position. remember, the key is staying small in statue.

notes from colorado

Just got back from the extra large youth ministry conference at GROUP headquarters in Denver. There were about 25 of the greatest youth pastors in the country and we spent three days in discussion and reflection on how to do what we do better. some thoughts...

-Anson is so funny that he makes me want to throw up
-faux pas is my favorite form of humor...(just like the t-shirts, you're big ______)
-leadership credibility = time
-the guys from Lancaster County Bible Church are going to have to get a visit in the soon time. much lol from them.
-fell in love with DAZ COG coffee. (organic from Russia)
-went to Estes Park and saw the Stanley hotel (The Shining, Dumb and Dumber, kinda freaky, kinda lame)
-Coors field and the Rockies are like thinking back to something that was cool at the time, but now feels outdated.
-people in Boulder are either really nice, or really mean. it must be all the patchouli.
-downtown Denver at midnight is much cooler after an energy drink
-some guys just aren't meant to be good at video games (me)
-ate the exact same breakfast four days in a row
-experiential is my favorite way to learn
-thanks Russ for your word into my life. it meant much
-walked away from some things in my life that i had been carrying around for way to long.
-missed my wife like crazy

Crazy Review

I recently finished reading Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan. The book provides many challenges to those of us who say we follow Jesus. The book also has a companion website that provides short videos from Francis Chan to add a little for body to each chapter in the book.

Here are a few quotes from the book:

What if I told you to stop talking at God for a while, but instead to take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word?

In our world, where hundreds of things distract us from God, we have to intentionally and constantly remind ourselves of Him.

His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words can’t contain Him. Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?

When I am consumed by my problems - stressed out about my life, my family, and my job - I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command to always rejoice.

Do not assume you are good soil.

Has your relationship with God actually changed the way you live?

Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they only want to be saved from the penalty of their sin.

God doesn’t just want us to have good theology; He wants us to know and love him.

… you have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin.

I believe these quotes will give you a good idea of the overall flavor of this book. Chan says that this book is for “…those who want more Jesus… who are bored with what American Christianity offers… who don’t want to plateau… who would rather die before their convictions do.”

His effort certainly succeeded in challenging me.