Dear Adam,
I will never EVER forget the impact you made on my life at a time when I was in the midst of transitioning from being a child into the adult I am today. When I met you back in 1990 at the Baptist Student Union (BSU) during my sophomore year at the University of Tennessee at Martin, my faith in Christ was not where it should be. Being raised by a strict father who didn't know how to show me Christ-like love or teach me in the ways of the Lord, it was a difficult time when I went off to college on my own for the first time at 17 with newfound freedom that could have destroyed my life before it started. You were a real godly father figure to me teaching me lessons in life I never learned growing up in a home that did not put God at the center.
There's one memory I will always have of knowing you that I've never forgotten to this day and it's one I'm not too proud of either. My first year in the BSU in 1990, we were on a mission trip somewhere (maybe New Orleans, Lousiana) and you gave us some spare time at the local mall to hang out and have some fun. You asked us to meet back at the bus at a certain time and when that time came I couldn't find the bus or any of our group at all. Frustrated, hungry, tired, and angry with myself that I was holding everybody up from going to dinner because they were out looking for me, when you found me walking around out front I did something that I regretted as soon as it came out of my mouth.
You opened the bus door and with that big, bright trademark smile of yours you exclaimed "Hi Jimmy!" Rather than responding in kind or expressing my gratitude for your patience in finding me a half an hour after I was supposed to be at the bus, all I could muster out of my smart-aleck little 18-year old mouth was "Shut up, Adam!" My heart immediately sank when I said that and I remember the quiet hush on that bus after it came out of my mouth. I also remember how I started sobbing uncontrollably feeling so disappointed in myself for lashing out at you. I never apologized to you for that immature, selfish action, so please accept my apology now. You've probably long forgotten, but it is meaningful for me to ask forgiveness some 20 years later.
The remainder of my college years was an incredible period of spiritual growth. My Christian walk transitioned from a casual, good ole boy, go to church on Sundays type of faith into committed, God fearing, go to church on Sundays because of my need to worship my Saviour type of genuine faith--and that faith is still alive and well in me to this very day. When I look back at being tutored by your example about what it means to be a godly man, I am grateful that He placed you in my path at a very impressionable time in my life. Had I not been positively influenced by the work of Adam Hall, then I don't think I'd be the man Jesus would have me to be now.
Being the director of the BSU at UT-Martin for as long as you were, I have no doubt you have been blessed by countless stories like mine of changed lives resulting from your incredibly selfless ministry there. For the first time in my life up until that point, I realized Christianity was so much more than just going to church on Sundays and being active in the choir. It was about a relationship with a living God who loves me and desires to be in control of every step of my life. I had never heard or experienced that before being involved at the BSU and seeing it for myself in all of my peers who were living it in their own lives.
While nobody's life is perfect, I consider mine to be a reflection of God's will. Without the positive influence for Christ I received in college, there's no telling what road I would have taken that would have been completely out of what the Lord had in store for me. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I've never forgotten that I am a child of God who has been bought by the blood of Jesus to do amazing things for His glory and honor. And He's abundantly blessed me with my dear wife Christine and shown me all the grace and mercy I could ever want or need. And it all happened because YOU were willing to be faithful to God's call in your life.
You and Pat have often been on my mind and prayers over the nearly two decades since I was a student at UTM. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you and I know God is looking down at you smiling proudly at his good and faithful servant and saying "Well done!" May the rest of your life be filled with the joy of watching your beautiful grandkids grow in the faith-filled vessels God created them to be. Sitting on grandpa's lap getting an earful about the love of Christ, I have no doubt that they too will experience a lifelong impact on the world because of your ministry to them. I LOVE YOU!
Jimmy Moore
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Letter #2--Christine Moore
Dear Christine,
Hey bunny wunny! Have I told you how much I love you lately? You are the best thing that ever happened to me and I'm so glad you came into my life in the early 1990s. The first time I ever saw you, I thought you were in your mid-30s. SERIOUSLY! I was 22 and thought you were WAY too old for me because you acted so mature and looked the part. Of course, I was a fat, immature, slob at the time, so in comparison to me you were light years ahead of me. Little did I know you were less than one year younger than me.
I'll never forget Dave in the bass section of the choir at Atlantic Shores Baptist Church hooking us up. I told him I thought you were cute and he played Cupid for us. Our first date was at McDonald's before we went bowling with the church league. Of course, I didn't tell you that I hadn't bowled since I was a little kid and it became painfully obvious the first year we were on the same team--my average was 105. Eventually I got so much better I bowled higher than you did. By that time, we were married.
Oh yes, the wedding on August 5, 1995. The happiest day of my life marrying the woman I love in a beautiful ceremony. We were so hungry after the wedding and pictures because all our guests ate up the food. EEEEK! Do you remember our first meal when we got to Williamsburg for our bed and breakfast was pizza? And since we don't drink alcohol, they had a bottle of sparkling cider for us. Oh the memories!
These years together have not always been easy, but I wouldn't trade them to be with anyone else in the entire world, Christine. You make me whole and I would not be the man I am today without you. I am who I am because you Christine have completed me and brought out the best qualities God created in me. When others thought I was just a morbidly obese nothing of a man, you saw great potential for something more. And you were right!
Today, I am a triple-digit weight loss success, owning a successful online business, helping thousands of people weekly through my blog and podcasts, and living the life I was always meant to have--and it would not have been made possible without Christine Renee Woodward Moore. Honey, I love you now more than ever before and I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together forever. THANK YOU for being my wife and I am honored to have you in it. You're my sweet little bunga bunga bunga!
Jimmy "Pooky Bear" Moore
Hey bunny wunny! Have I told you how much I love you lately? You are the best thing that ever happened to me and I'm so glad you came into my life in the early 1990s. The first time I ever saw you, I thought you were in your mid-30s. SERIOUSLY! I was 22 and thought you were WAY too old for me because you acted so mature and looked the part. Of course, I was a fat, immature, slob at the time, so in comparison to me you were light years ahead of me. Little did I know you were less than one year younger than me.
I'll never forget Dave in the bass section of the choir at Atlantic Shores Baptist Church hooking us up. I told him I thought you were cute and he played Cupid for us. Our first date was at McDonald's before we went bowling with the church league. Of course, I didn't tell you that I hadn't bowled since I was a little kid and it became painfully obvious the first year we were on the same team--my average was 105. Eventually I got so much better I bowled higher than you did. By that time, we were married.
Oh yes, the wedding on August 5, 1995. The happiest day of my life marrying the woman I love in a beautiful ceremony. We were so hungry after the wedding and pictures because all our guests ate up the food. EEEEK! Do you remember our first meal when we got to Williamsburg for our bed and breakfast was pizza? And since we don't drink alcohol, they had a bottle of sparkling cider for us. Oh the memories!
These years together have not always been easy, but I wouldn't trade them to be with anyone else in the entire world, Christine. You make me whole and I would not be the man I am today without you. I am who I am because you Christine have completed me and brought out the best qualities God created in me. When others thought I was just a morbidly obese nothing of a man, you saw great potential for something more. And you were right!
Today, I am a triple-digit weight loss success, owning a successful online business, helping thousands of people weekly through my blog and podcasts, and living the life I was always meant to have--and it would not have been made possible without Christine Renee Woodward Moore. Honey, I love you now more than ever before and I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together forever. THANK YOU for being my wife and I am honored to have you in it. You're my sweet little bunga bunga bunga!
Jimmy "Pooky Bear" Moore
Friday, January 16, 2009
Letter #1--Kevin Moore
Dear Kevin,
What's up, big bro? You know how much I love you, don't you? I mean, who else would put up with a snotty-nosed kid four years his junior and give him somebody he could look up to. I didn't always think you were the nicest guy in the world, but then one event changed my perception of you forever as I saw a side of you I've never forgotten since.
I remember that time we were in Middleton, Tennessee during the summer of 1981 visiting our dad and I was like nine years old and you were thirteen. We were playing pool, pinball and video games at the Crossroads when I had to go to the bathroom (so what else is new, right?). It was outside and around back and I remember opening the door to this "bathroom" on a 100-degree day and watching a swarm of bees fly directly at me as I started running for my life screaming bloody murder.
Minutes later when I came running inside the game room raising a ruckus and bawling my eyes out while holding my ear, you showed me sympathy and care like I'd never experienced before. You pulled money out of your pocket that you could have used to play more games for yourself to get me a cup of ice to help reduce the swelling where the bees had stung me. In all, there were about 10 bee stings in my ear and that thing just blew up bigger than Dumbo's ear that stayed that way for days.
But even through all that pain and crying, to this day all I can remember is the love and kindness of an older brother who cared enough about his "lil' bro" to do what he had to do to make me feel better. Isn't it funny what you remember of all the things that happen to you growing up? That happened nearly three decades ago and I can recall it vividly like it just happened yesterday.
What makes it especially difficult to tell that story right now is the fact that you were taken from me and our entire family on October 16, 2008 at the age of 41. I miss you, Kevin, because you were an instrumental part of my life and making me into the person I am today. You didn't always do things perfectly, but who cares? You were my brother and I was proud to call you that. When you took me out to Arby's to get 10 roast beef sandwiches for $5 after the Friday night football game, I was the coolest kid on the planet! You made me feel special!
I probably didn't tell you this enough throughout your life, but I LOVE YOU! Yes, that's right, even when I told dad you smoked, ratted you out for doing stuff you shouldn't have, and got you in trouble for things a lot when we were kids, deep down inside I ALWAYS loved you anyway ya big lug. And whether you ever verbalized it or not, I knew you loved me too. It was hard for us Moore boys to show any emotion since we never saw it from our own father. But love can show up in a variety of ways.
Although you're gone now and I'll never get to see that trademark smile or hear that big hearty laugh of yours anymore while here on Earth, I will NEVER forget the way you positively influenced my life to be a better person today than I would have been. Despite dad getting mad at you for tipping the hair stylist $10 for an $8 haircut, what I saw in that was a generosity and appreciation for others that I now try to exhibit in my adult life. You never had to say a word...I was watching!
You lived the example for me to follow and I will always remember our brotherly bond from now until the day the good Lord decides to take me home, too. See ya in heaven one of these days, Kevin "Big Bro" Moore. YOU ARE THE BEST and I LOVE YOU FOREVER!
Jimmy "Lil' Bro" Moore
What's up, big bro? You know how much I love you, don't you? I mean, who else would put up with a snotty-nosed kid four years his junior and give him somebody he could look up to. I didn't always think you were the nicest guy in the world, but then one event changed my perception of you forever as I saw a side of you I've never forgotten since.
I remember that time we were in Middleton, Tennessee during the summer of 1981 visiting our dad and I was like nine years old and you were thirteen. We were playing pool, pinball and video games at the Crossroads when I had to go to the bathroom (so what else is new, right?). It was outside and around back and I remember opening the door to this "bathroom" on a 100-degree day and watching a swarm of bees fly directly at me as I started running for my life screaming bloody murder.
Minutes later when I came running inside the game room raising a ruckus and bawling my eyes out while holding my ear, you showed me sympathy and care like I'd never experienced before. You pulled money out of your pocket that you could have used to play more games for yourself to get me a cup of ice to help reduce the swelling where the bees had stung me. In all, there were about 10 bee stings in my ear and that thing just blew up bigger than Dumbo's ear that stayed that way for days.
But even through all that pain and crying, to this day all I can remember is the love and kindness of an older brother who cared enough about his "lil' bro" to do what he had to do to make me feel better. Isn't it funny what you remember of all the things that happen to you growing up? That happened nearly three decades ago and I can recall it vividly like it just happened yesterday.
What makes it especially difficult to tell that story right now is the fact that you were taken from me and our entire family on October 16, 2008 at the age of 41. I miss you, Kevin, because you were an instrumental part of my life and making me into the person I am today. You didn't always do things perfectly, but who cares? You were my brother and I was proud to call you that. When you took me out to Arby's to get 10 roast beef sandwiches for $5 after the Friday night football game, I was the coolest kid on the planet! You made me feel special!
I probably didn't tell you this enough throughout your life, but I LOVE YOU! Yes, that's right, even when I told dad you smoked, ratted you out for doing stuff you shouldn't have, and got you in trouble for things a lot when we were kids, deep down inside I ALWAYS loved you anyway ya big lug. And whether you ever verbalized it or not, I knew you loved me too. It was hard for us Moore boys to show any emotion since we never saw it from our own father. But love can show up in a variety of ways.
Although you're gone now and I'll never get to see that trademark smile or hear that big hearty laugh of yours anymore while here on Earth, I will NEVER forget the way you positively influenced my life to be a better person today than I would have been. Despite dad getting mad at you for tipping the hair stylist $10 for an $8 haircut, what I saw in that was a generosity and appreciation for others that I now try to exhibit in my adult life. You never had to say a word...I was watching!
You lived the example for me to follow and I will always remember our brotherly bond from now until the day the good Lord decides to take me home, too. See ya in heaven one of these days, Kevin "Big Bro" Moore. YOU ARE THE BEST and I LOVE YOU FOREVER!
Jimmy "Lil' Bro" Moore
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