Signs of the Times

by Jon Moore on Saturday, February 5, 2011 at 9:58pm

Having finished my first six months at Starbucks (first review, first holiday season; etc.), I've been thinking about how many crazy or unique things suddenly are a "normal" part of life. So, A La Jeff Foxworthy, here are a few signs you might be a Starbucks Barista.

1. You hear alarms beeping wherever you go. You can't stop it, even in your sleep.

2. You get up in the dark, go to work in an office surrounded by windows, and never have time to see the sun rise.

3. you have "lunch" at 9:30am.

4. By 11am, it's time for your 2nd shower of the day (during the summer at least).

5. You fear the "ClOpe" (Close at 10:30 one night and Open at 5am the next morning).

6. The phone rings and you have to stop yourself from answering, "Thank you for choosing Starbucks...."

7. You know people more by their drinks than anything else.

8. Your most common phrase during a typical workday is "what size would you like?".

9. You dread serving other Baristas (they love the most complicated drink orders).

10. You smell like coffee all the time.

11. You spend more wash time on aprons than anything else.

and finally

You wear a LOT of black.

A Thousand Things

by Jon Moore on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 9:13pm

We had a beautiful service last Sunday with singer/songwriter Christa Wells aiding us in musical worship, which has me listening to some of her music. One song, “A Thousand Things” reminds us of how in the midst of deep personal pain, there is far more going on in the plans of our almighty, loving God than we can see in our immediate circumstances. We see so little, because we are so limited in our understanding and because our emotions are so raw and overwhelming. Still, God is at work, weaving a web of grace that reaches far beyond our vision, much less our comprehension.
This is a privileged reminder for me right now, as our household is wrestling with difficult challenges. My wife and I are trying to discern where God may lead us after this internship concludes, and at least one possibility leaves us still working jobs that are stressful without being particularly rewarding. Also, our roommates have recently discovered that their hope and plan to go on staff with Campus Crusade must be put on hold for a while. So, both couples are wrestling with God’s sovereignty, goodness, and wisdom.
Christa’s timely musical reminder dovetails well with a series of testimonies I’ve heard about the variety of ways God has brought friends to Christ. God has a way of using the bizarre and mundane to accomplish astonishing results in this world. And of course, the most powerful example of that is the cross. To think heaven’s greatest triumph would come through man’s most horrific actions, the torture and murder of the sinless Son of God… well, let’s just be honest and say it’s not what we would have done. It never would have crossed our minds.
I don’t know everyone else’s troubles, and neither do you. We’re far too preoccupied with our own concerns so often. But the reminders are all around us that we don’t need to be in control of events to have security… nor should we want to be. Our God is far more creative, wise, and effective than any of our pitiful attempts would be.

POSTSCRIPT- If you want to check out Christa's music, you can do so at http://www.christawellsmusic.com/music/ and you can pick up her latest album for free on NoiseTrade.

20 Things to know about the Fox-Moore Fortress

Things to know about living in the Fox-Moore Fortress

1. After each meal, it is commonplace to offer the suggestion of "I think this needed more garlic/bacon."
2. There is a strict no-talking through closed bedroom doors rule.
3. Gandolf loves having more space to run around in. In fact he just loves to run... up and down the hallway at full speed. Beware flying cats.
4. We have 3 toilets in the house. That's a safe number for us.
5. The phrase "I apologize for my _______________" is used an average of 18.3 times per day.
6. Always leave the house walking backwards. It's not a superstitious thing, it's a 'Gandolf loves to run outside' thing.
7. We go through a gallon of Orange Juice every 3 days or so.
8. One of the benefits to this arrangement is that the size of our libraries has doubled. Bibliophiles rejoice.
9. Disney tunes are likely to be heard during dish washing times. Join in if you know the words.
10. Household chores are spread out over 4 people, 4x the help, 4x the procrastination.
11. Waffles are on Tuesday nights. Dress is super casual, shoes are optional, waffles flavors vary from week to week.
12. For simple marital miscommunications, an interpreter is usually available upon request.
13. If you desire to enter the house, you'll likely be asked if you're an axe murderer. If you're not, come on in!
14. Don't be put off by the sound of a loud, high pitched, squeal/sneezy-sounding hiccup.... It's normal...for Telly.
15. Netflix + Wii = happy roommates
16. Brandi likes green bananas. Telly likes ones yellow ones with brown spots. Together, all bananas are acceptable.
17. The "baby bump" room refers to the guest room. Don't be alarmed, no human in the house is expecting. But the pink of the walls plus the curious bump around the waist-line of the room has the tabloids going.
18. When we scouted the house, the smallest bedroom was going to be an office, with the sewing stuff stored in there. Then it became the office/sewing room. Now fabric scraps are littered everywhere, the closet is full of projects, and the men usually just poke their heads inside.
19. For your convenience, an eye poking device is located in the living room. In case of emergency, break glass.
20. Books are organized by genre in different rooms. Poetry is in the Fox's room. For kid's literature and coffee table books, stick to the living room. Cook books are in the dining room. General reference, theology, and craft books are in the sewing room/study. General Fiction, SciFi, Classical literature, LOtR, and miscellaneous collections can be found in the baby bump room. See Chris Fox at the circulation desk for more specific information.



For all those that raised their eyebrows and slightly questioned (in a loving way) the implementation of such a crazy plan, know this: Three months into the adventure, it's been amazing. To have a friend at home when my hubby is not, to share in joys and be comforted in sorrows, it's been a blessing.

Headlines

Despite the long hiatus that both Jon and I have taken from updating y'all on our progress as a married unit, let me assure all of you that we are in fact, still married. Just to catch you up, here are some of the recent headlines in our life:

Jon gets job with coffee giant

Thanks to some persistence, Jon has been working at Starbucks since the beginning of July. It's been a difficult adjustment (for a non-coffee drinker/non-morning person especially) but he's been doing great. He gets around 32-37 hrs. a week, the health benefits are great, and he enjoys the people aspect of it (I don't mind the free frappachino's every once in a while either).

Chantelle slides into temp job with Penske

The agency I was doing substitute teaching through also handles temp positions in the Rock Hill/Charlotte area. They found a data entry job for me in Charlotte (about 20 min. away) that was supposed to last about 2 months. So far I've been here for 4 months. They offered me the chance to stay on permanently, but the hours (usually over 45 / week, and mandatory every other Saturday) have been too rough on my family/home life. Also, I want to get back into the classroom, and subbing (though less profitable) is a better way to get my foot in the door.

Long-time friends share house; lose sanity

It started off as a crazy idea to help Jon and I stay in town and save money. It's turned into one of the greatest ideas ever (well, except for sliced bread). Jon and I have known and loved Brandi and Chris Fox for over 4 years. We share many eccentricities, personality traits, and passions. After lots of prayer, questions, and considerations, we decided live together. We've got a decent sized house with a floor plan that suits all of us well. There are lots of up, a couple downs, and tons of love, all of which I hope to write about in another blog pretty soon.

Church hires new intern

The EFCA church we attend was excited to offer Jon the chance to intern with our beloved EPIC pastor Ken. He's taken over the oversee-ment of a couple of ministries, preached a few times, and is learning some great management pointers from the hyper-organized Ken-in-Chief. His 8 hrs. a week at the church help get him through the disheveled mornings at Starbucks. Jon's also working on his Pastoral Connection Form and will be working on his ordination through the EFC in the next few months. We're still not sure what the Lord has for his professional future, but things are nice right now.

Despite the long hiatus that both Jon and I have taken from updating y'all on our progress as a married unit, let me assure all of you that we are in fact, still married. Just to catch you up, here are some of the recent headlines in our life:

Jon gets job with coffee giant

Thanks to some persistence, Jon has been working at Starbucks since the beginning of July. It's been a difficult adjustment (for a non-coffee drinker/non-morning person especially) but he's been doing great. He gets around 32-37 hrs. a week, the health benefits are great, and he enjoys the people aspect of it (I don't mind the free frappachino's every once in a while either).

Chantelle slides into temp job with Penske

The agency I was doing substitute teaching through also handles temp positions in the Rock Hill/Charlotte area. They found a data entry job for me in Charlotte (about 20 min. away) that was supposed to last about 2 months. So far I've been here for 4 months. They offered me the chance to stay on permanently, but the hours (usually over 45 / week, and mandatory every other Saturday) have been too rough on my family/home life. Also, I want to get back into the classroom, and subbing (though less profitable) is a better way to get my foot in the door.

Long-time friends share house; lose sanity

It started off as a crazy idea to help Jon and I stay in town and save money. It's turned into one of the greatest ideas ever (well, except for sliced bread). Jon and I have known and loved Brandi and Chris Fox for over 4 years. We share many eccentricities, personality traits, and passions. After lots of prayer, questions, and considerations, we decided live together. We've got a decent sized house with a floor plan that suits all of us well. There are lots of up, a couple downs, and tons of love, all of which I hope to write about in another blog pretty soon.

Church hires new intern

The EFCA church we attend was excited to offer Jon the chance to intern with our beloved EPIC pastor Ken. He's taken over the oversee-ment of a couple of ministries, preached a few times, and is learning some great management pointers from the hyper-organized Ken-in-Chief. His 8 hrs. a week at the church help get him through the disheveled mornings at Starbucks. Jon's also working on his Pastoral Connection Form and will be working on his ordination through the EFC in the next few months. We're still not sure what the Lord has for his professional future, but things are nice right now.

Moore's are still pet-less.

Jon still won't let me have a cat, or dog, or fish, or bird, or miniature horse. Gandolf - the Foxes skitzoid crazy but sometimes bearably cute cat - will have to do for now.

These are some of the main things happening in our lives, but I hope to fill you in on some of the more quirky, funny, insightful things that happen.


Jon still won't let me have a cat, or dog, or fish, or bird, or miniature horse. Gandolf - the Foxes skitzoid crazy but sometimes bearably cute cat - will have to do for now.

These are some of the main things happening in our lives, but I hope to fill you in on some of the more quirky, funny, insightful things that happen.

Jacksonville, Day 3

We got back to work today, a little more tired than yesterday from our work, ultimate frisbee, and a few competitive games of spades. Today brought a few more conversations with people from the neighborhood. As a result, we've heard some good reports about the reputation 2nd mile is developing in the community. We heard going in that some people have praised their efforts and asked where they get all the "nice white people." Today we heard firsthand from a lady who stopped a couple of team members, and hearing we were with 2nd mile she glowed about the wonderful things they bring to the neighborhood. this supports our thoughts that while we may not get to preach the Gospel directly, we are supporting the long term health of the team here and helping them open doors for Gospel conversations.

At the school where we volunteer in the afternoons, we also got high praise from one of the principles and several teachers, even though we just gave a little time to move boxes into storage. It amazes me that even small gestures can have such striking impact. One small church that 2nd Mile has partnered with has commented that they have been a breath of fresh air, and though the initial partnership was hesitant, they have had such a change of heart that they are offering a building which they cannot maintain as a rent-free base of operations.

Today sparked not only a greater appreciation for 2nd Mile but also a greater conviction that this Brentwood neighborhood looks a lot like some of the neighborhoods in Rock Hill. We spent a fair part of our downtime dreaming and considering how God might use Manchester and other churches to reach into the lives of people along the Saluda Street/ Cherry Rd. corridor. Those discussions were intensified as we spent our evening devotional looking at the host Scripture that reveals God's commitment to justice and the poor. With those verses ringing in my ears, I'm more convinced than ever that 2nd Mile may be a long term investment for our church. There are plenty more chances to send teams either for work projects like the renovation of the proposed building offered by Pearl Street Baptist (they hope to get the building in use by the Spring) or through service and relationship building (there is a particular need for people who can counsel some of these at risk teens through the host of challenges they face). 2nd Mile probably won't ever be a bedrock or primary ministry for us, but it's a fantastic secondary opportunity to see long term how the Gospel will bear fruit, and it gives a unique opportunity as a training ground for what God may call us to do in Rock Hill. It's impossible to be a part of this and not be excited about what God will bring. So, as we did tonight, we dream, pray, and delight at the hope of Christ's redemption to others.

Jacksonville, Day 2

Well, today we began our trip in earnest, and it's been what I expected, if not exactly what I hoped for. Overall,this promises to be a rewarding trip, with much to think on and be excited by for weeks to come.

After breakfast and quiet time, we headed out to do street clean-up (trash, mowing, edging; etc.). It started out a tad rough because lots of the equipment we had on hand is.... well let's just call it temperamental. Fortunately, Les Unruh and Eric Ness are excellent field repairmen, and by the end of the morning had more equipment running than we needed. Our goal for the week is to fix up sections of 2 roads that run on either side of the 2nd mile ministry house. Even with the challenge of initially doing all the edging without aid of power tools, I think we're on target to get it all done. In the afternoon, we shifted gears and went to a local elementary school, where we cleaned up their stage, which had been getting used as storage for old books. I think we will continue to be there the rest of the week doing similar service projects.

It may not seem like much, but as Eric very wisely said, our aim really can't be for major breakthroughs. We're really just support staff who help provide credibility and opportunity for the 2nd mile staff who do the real and hard work of building relationships and trust long after we're gone. And it's important to remember that this Gospel ministry, but it is not the Gospel. The Gospel is the message of salvation through Christ, and we may never get to share that message. What we do is show redemption applied, that the promise of the Gospel is true, and that is an exciting opportunity.

The Challenge for me is that I love the deep conversation, the grand story of someone's life and how God is speaking to them, but so far we haven't really had those. We stand out as outsiders, and people are polite but not in general terribly friendly. They genuinely appreciate our presence and work, but we probably won't have those big conversations. I hope we do, but it's more important that we can stand out enough for Ruth or Marc or the rest of the staff to have those down the line.

Two guys that have really stood out for us have been Earnest and AJ. They are local guys who hang out with the gang here a lot, so we've had some chance to goof off and talk a bit. I'm hoping for more opportunity over the course of the week to know them more.

a Few random things I've enjoyed learning so far-

1. One of the interns here is the daughter of our district superintendent

2. I am not old, but playing frisbee with these guys, I am reminded that I am not as young as I like to think.

3. Rachel is now a quarter of a century old.

4. Eric cannot dance, but he plays a pretty good game of spades.

Jacksonville-Day 1

So an opportunity arose recently to be part of a team from Manchester going to Jacksonville, FL for a service trip with 2nd Mile Ministries. Their aim is to reach into one of the poorest sectors of Jacksonville through relational ministry. I didn't think it was going to work out to go based on cost plus work scheduling, but a few weeks ago, Telly encouraged me to consider going with Chris (our roommate). Apparently, God liked the idea too, because my store manager gave me the week off, and to top it off, the church's giving covered the cost of everyone on the team.

So, 7 of us packed up and headed down this morning. The team here is pretty sweet. We spent the evening with 2 of the staff members, and a house full of interns. It's been great to learn all kinds of new things about the team, and get to hear stories from our new friends (one of the interns is the daughter of our EFCA district superintendent).

Most of what we've done to date has been settling in... basic orientation and a tour of the area. In some ways, it's not that unusual... rough neighborhoods here look like rough neighborhoods in Rock Hill. I think the thing that strikes me the most is how much of the neighborhood is empty. Condemned buildings abound. I am curious how the community will react to us. I keep hearing that we stand out in an awkward way, since we're the strange white people. Growing up with Mom and Dad involved in a camp for minorities and having the examples of so many relationships crossing racial lines, it seems really odd for me. I feel at home here as much as anywhere. I'm interested to see how God leads conversations over the course of the week.

For now, good night Rock Hill and hello Jacksonville!