The music - continues to form.

I am amazed at how the music is coming along. Ryan Owens (who plays with the Robbie Seay Band, is playing bass on the album. He is amazing. Also Joe, who plays with Evangeline; Blew my socks of on tuesday. Both bands you should check out. I praise God because of these guys and my hope is that you will praise God through the music that we are making.

It has begun

Well, the recording has begun. Jeff and Ryan (the producers) are rolling in the new studio, Red tree studios. I am a guy who has really just jumped into this world of music, so I am feeling very green but you have to start somewhere. I am glad there is a capable team around me. Tigh was laying down drum tracks this past week and guitars are going to be started tomorrow. It seems like I am traveling at light speed but I am not worried. My God is a way better captain than Jean-luc Picard.

Life of a rock star. (From a bird's perspective)

Well, I am in the middle of getting this CD and music career launched and when you do that, it requires that you have pictures of yourself - good ones. Not just one of you of you and your friends making faces in the camera. So, I schedule a photo shoot. I know it sounds kind or pre-madonna -ish, but it seems that is how it goes down in this business. I have a photographer take me to some spots that he has scouted in downtown Houston and we get started. He has me stand there and I am in my best 'musicians shirt' and he begins the whole rapid fire picture taking thing. So, people are passing by, of course, because it is downtown and I have that uncomfortable feeling because it is really awkward to have a person taking tons of pictures of you. People are stopping and trying to figure out who is this guy that is getting all these pictures taken. It was all really kind of weird to me.

A few moments into the session I am realizing that it appears that I someone famous and I realize that all I did was pay someone to take pictures. While realizing this, I am also realizing that this is not that big of a deal and I am not that big of deal - not to put myself down and/or not to elevate myself above anyone else. Well, I believe God gave me some help in remembering not to elevate myself.

In the middle of the session, as I am striking a pose yet one more time, I hear a couple of rain drops on this very clear Sunday afternoon. As I begin to surmise that those can't be rain drops, the biggest drop lands right on the top of my head. When I took into account that there is a huge flock of birds hanging out near by and once I saw that the 'drop of rain' on my head was brown, I became confident that a bird had pooped on head in the middle of my photo shoot. I went form rock star to toilet in a matter of seconds.

What a funny way to be reminded that God is always helping me to be humble. Thank-you God for the reminder. Point well taken and with a smile.

One last thing before I end. Remember, If you get a big head you become an easier target for birds.

Being vouched for.

I am beginning a music label called TQ Music and Ministry through which I can create and promote the music God has given me. To make this company a reality and not just a dream there comes this need for capital, cashola, benjamins or whatever you call it. So, I sent out some emails and talked with some people and I began to receive investors. All of these investor have been people who have known me for years except for one investor. Those investors who have known me continue to show there love and support of me. Many of them don't know a thing about the music business but yet in still they have invested in me, which is extremely humbling and a treasure that is far greater than the amount invested. With all of this great love I have been showered with, I came to one investor that has just totally perplexed me and I believe has given me a living example of the relationship between God the father and Jesus the son.

This family that I am referring to does not know me. I think we had one crossing of paths years ago, but that is about it. But I do know their son and I heard from their son that they wanted to invest and I mean really invest. I thought great that is awesome, I will call them and we will talk details and answer all their questions and once they hear everything then maybe they will be ready to invest. So, I made the phone call and asked if they had any questions. They said 'no'. I asked if anything needed to be explained. They said, "No. We wouldn't even know what to ask. But they did told me that their son spoke highly of me. So with that recommendation they were in. Just like that - with no questions, no heavy examination, no doubt and with just the son's recommendation their resources became the resources of Tq Music and Ministry.

In the later chapters of the Gospel of John (chapter 14 and following), Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to the Father and if they remain in relationship with him then they can ask for anything in his name and they will receive it, because Jesus knew them. Jesus has said that through him they have full access to the resources of God. Much like I knew the son of these investors and their resources became available. If we know Jesus then, the Fathers resources are made available because he trusts his son.

Raw thoughts: To Wait and then to move. (part 2)

Good things might come to those who wait
Not to those who wait to late
We got to go for all we know

-Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington, Jr.

So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

-Joshua 18:3

Today I sit right in the middle of 40 days of waiting. I have heard all different kinds ideas about what to do in this period of time. So I will wait until I can go for what I know.

The above was written in April and now (sept 18th) I find myself ushered out of the waiting into a moving part of my life. My life has taken a turn in a new direction since Feb. 28th, my last day as youth minister at the West Houston church of Christ. Since then, I believe the God has laid a path that says trust me, walk the road of a Christian musician and seek to bring transformation as you walk with me, help your family live fully as I have made them and don't not veer to the right or left of this task I have given you.

So today, I find myself promoting Tq Music and Ministry, being Mr. Mom while my wife brings home the bacon as a school nurse. At this point in my career, I could barely bring home the pigs feet and you can forget the bacon. I have gone from going work all the time to working at home.

Inwardly, I am finding that this financial drought is stretching my faith, even though God has continued to provide more than enough as usual. Also, I am truly in a spot where I know very little and I find that uncomfortable at times.

But with all of this upheaval, I find myself 'ultimately' at peace (definition of 'ultimately': the calm after I have figuratively scream and yelled because the 'sky was falling') Here is the reason I am ultimately at peace. I know that God has us (me and my family) here and "we've got to go for all we know". Just the two of us -God and my family.

Father, we are ready to take possession of the land. May it be on earth as it is in heaven.

Violent Freedom

The freedom that Jesus offers is violent to our lives, yet freeing for our souls. Our lives will not stay the same and neither will our souls. They will be truly free. Notice Lyrics from the bridge of Third Day's song "Who I am" -
"And I know that you want to change me
Want to rearrange the way I feel inside
Yes, I've heard that you take
The broken hearts of lonely souls
And make all things right"

Beautifully spoken and my heart has witnessed it's truth. - TQ

Fasting

"Fasting is not about food it is about seeking. And in your seeking it is not about finding the answers to life's questions, it is about finding life. And when you find life, you will notice it looks exactly like Jesus because he is life." - TQ

Raw thoughts: To Wait and then to move.

Good things might come to those who wait
Not to those who wait to late
We got to go for all we know

-Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington, Jr.

So Joshua said to the Israelites: "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?

-Joshua 18:3

Today I sit right in the middle of 40 days of waiting. I have heard all different kinds ideas about what to do in this period of time. So I will wait until I can go for what I know.

Raw thoughts - Don't be Silent

Psalms 83:1
1 O God, do not keep silent;
be not quiet, O God, be not still.

As my family and I are in a period of waiting on the Lord to tell us what he would like the next chapter of our lives to look like. I find consolation in the the words of the Psalmist. He has the courage to ask God to speak and to no longer be silent. For the purpose of showing outsiders that God is with his people and he is God overall.

So Father, I ask the same request to the psalm writer. Please do not be silent. We are openly waiting on you because we only want to do what you would be doing and I believe there are others waiting to see what you will do. Overcome the unknowns our our future with your prescence.

In the name of Jesus - May it be as written.

My family's prayer and new song "Waiting"

Lord, we are waiting
For you to speak
Lord, we are waiting
Waiting in peace.

Chorus 1
You never let us down
never let us down
I know that you never will


Lord, We are certain
That you will catch us
Catch us when we fall
So Lord we are waiting


Verse 2
Lord, we are waiting
For you to point the way.
And our feet so ready
Just lead the way

Chorus 2
We know you have plans
Plans not to harm
But to prosper your children
So we won’t be alarmed
Oh no Oh no
So we are waiting


Bridge

Those who wait on the Lord
He will renew their strength
Those who wait on the Lord
They will run and not grow weary
Those who wait on the Lord
They will mount up on eagles
mount up on eagles

So we are waiting


All rights reserved by Tquan Moore
Copyright 2007

When God Shows Up

Tonight I went to Husky's, the restaurant nearest to our church, to celebrate the baptism of a student. As I was leaving, I met a man in the parking lot. His name is Tony. I met Tony because he was asking me for some financial help to get his car fixed. I talked with him and we got a bit of cash to help get his car serviced. As we talked God showed up.

Tony began to tell me about his tough time over the past two years since finishing his prison sentence. He shared with me how people would tell him that he should go and be productive in society but he is finding that society doesn't want to take a risk on him. It is as if society no longer sees Tony as a person who needs help, it sees him just as a liability. Interestingly enough, in the midst of that tough setting, God showed up. God always picks the best times to come on the scene. Tonight, He chose to show up in Tony's desperation. This man who is just trying to make ends meet didn't see much hope for the ends getting together any time soon. As I looked into this desperate man's eyes, I saw God.

Tony needed hope for the future and since I didn't have a job in my back pocket, we sought hope together. We prayed. We asked God to provide and encourage. And when the amen was said I met a man who was broken and in need. You may think I am talking about Tony but I am not. I am talking about me. I once read that a man who was helping an ex-con said to him, " The only difference between you and me is that I didn't get caught." You see, like the man I just quoted, I was realizing I am no different than Tony. Tony was in need tonight and his neediness helped me to recall how frequently I am in need. This recollection was highlighted as I got back into my car that was just fixed today because God provided for me the payment I could not afford to pay for on my own. (Again, God knows how to show up.) I realized that, though the world doesn't see it, I am no less broken or in need of God's provision and encouragement than Tony.

Thank-you Lord for showing up and reminding me of my brokenness and my neediness. It keeps me grounded. May the abundance your grace cover Tony in all his areas of need. In the name of Jesus. My heart says, "Yes!" (Translation: ...name of Jesus, Amen)

Note to the reader:
By the way, If you know of anyone willing to give Tony a chance just respond to this blog. Thanks. Being transformed daily.

Transformation Series: The Desire to Transcend

As far back as I can remember, I have aspired to do something that, at the time, I was unable to do. Before I knew you needed a license to drive I wanted to win races like 'Speed Racer'. When I got my first radio, I began to imagine singing before crowds of people. While in college I began to believe that I was supposed to be part of something great for God and I am still reaching for whatever he has is store. I don't know if you are one of those dreamers like me who sees something out there that seems beyond you, but you find that the only acceptable action for you is to reach it anyway. I wonder what brings us to dream beyond ourselves like this. Some may think that this is just youthful naivety, but I think it is something written into our DNA. I take that back. It is not just in our DNA. It is in something deeper. I believe it is written on our very souls.

I wonder if the caterpillar deals with this. Think about it for moment. If you could get into the mind of a caterpillar, what do you think would drive it to seek flight? I wonder if a caterpillar is born among its other caterpillar brothers and sisters and begins to go about its life finding leaves for food, crawling up trees and flowers, and trying to keep from being eaten by the early worm. It is an existence that probably seems like a good one, from his perspective. It seems manageable and not too bad of a life as long as you've got food on a branch near you.Okay there is the potential of some bird of prey, like the terrible pigeon, that could end your life in one swoop but that does keeps things interesting. What is it that takes the caterpillar beyond its ground level life and causes it to gaze to the heavens and picture being up there? I wonder if this dream doesn't begin to develop until it sees/imagines the possibility for it. Imagine what it might be like for the caterpillar to see a butterfly for the first time. Does its heart pound? Does it stop it munching away at the leaf and drop its jaw? I don't know. I don't know if they are oblivious to their metamorphic destiny or whether they were taught as little larvae that one day they would soar the skies above them. Either way I believe if they ever got to see a butterfly fluttering by then something would be stirred in their heart.

When I get to see dreams lived out, it inspires the dormant dreamer in me. I remember seeing Star Wars and desiring to be a noble hero like a Jedi. But more than the lives lived out on the silver screen, real life people have inspired me to dream. My father inspired me to be a leader, as I watched him lead men under him in rank. My youth minister inspired me to join God in transforming lives, by joining God in my life's transformation. I am inspired to hold on to the God, because I have seen my mother stubbornly (in a good way) hold on to God when despair was pound on her hearts door. There is something about the dreamers reaching for the stars that helps me to believe that the stars can be touched. These dream pioneers don't even need to successful they just need to keep reaching.

There where a band of ordinary men who became dreamers because they believed in the one who makes the deepest dreams of our hearts come true. Those followers of Jesus believed in him. Now listen to how Jesus sets them up to dream beyond themselves.

John 14:11-13

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

"...Greater things than these..." Wow! Talk about transcending yourself. Jesus did amazing things and so did his followers. They healed the sick, cast out demons and raised the dead and because they continued to be fishers of men and followed a dream that transcended them, they changed the world. Those men are butterflies to this caterpillar.

To all butterflies fly high and to all the caterpillars look up.

Raw Thoughts: Standing without a Platform

Note to the reader: This is not about wrong or right or about persuasion of any kind. This is about openness and the sharing of my journey with you. May you be blessed as you read.

Well, I have had a sabbatical and I am back at the office for about five more weeks until I reach my last day. I have been in the office for one week so far and it has probably been one of the hardest weeks of my career. When I left back in December I knew that the the youth ministry was in capable hands and I was absolutely right. When I got back things were moving very well. Events were happening, groups of people were getting involved and there was even an excitement at our youth staff meeting that I hadn't seen in a while. Things were moving right along...without me.

Have you ever been faced with watching the world move without you? It is a humbling experience (and I know I need a bit of humility). I excepted things to be going well without me. I even hoped for it, but experiencing it is an altogether different thing. I came back to a place that I at one time was an integral part of. Now I am trying to figure out how to fit in. The experience is like one of those cartoons (probably Road Runner fits best ) where the character is standing on a platform, limb or plank that is precariously hanging over a cliff. Then the plank that the character is standing on gets yanked from under his feet and he looks at the audience as if to say, 'This is going to hurt.' and plummets to the ground beneath him. You see what I am finding is that the thing that I was standing on, my job, calling, vocation, whatever you want to call it, is gone. And with it being yanked from under my feet I find myself plummeting through a myriad of emotions and thoughts in the whole process.

Doubt is one of the first things that I have been facing. Like a neon sign that flashes at your window at night while you are trying to sleep, doubt seems to annoyingly make himself glaringly apparent when you are trying to have some peace or get some rest. There are doubts about whether I have been useful or not. Doubts concerning if there is anything that I have to offer the world in the future. Doubts concerning convictions that stand on. Doubts seem to be springing up every where like weeds and they can be very unsettling.

Being alone is another thing that I am facing. I don't mean like 'I wish I had a love interest' alone. I mean like I am wearing a scarlet letter and I want to get away alone. My letter is 'L'. It stands for the guy who is leaving us. So, I find myself wanting to isolate myself to hide my letter. I want to dodge questions about the future, and wanting to get away and figure out the answers to those questions. I find myself wondering if I am the only one who has ever felt like this but I don't want to ask. And thereby as I try to hide my letter I end up fulfilling what the letter stands for. I end up leaving, even while physically being present.

Anger is another one of those emotions that I find myself experiencing. I find myself angry at those who don't agree with me. Wishing they would have done...(whatever I thought best) and thinking I'll show them them when I... ( and I come up with a marvelous scenario where I prove them all wrong in grand fashion). Then I get angry at myself for not being above these petty thoughts concerning those who think differently than me. Ye Ha! This ride gets better the further you drop, huh? (Can you smell the sarcasm emanating from your computer screen?)

There are probably more emotions that I am falling through but I am tired of writing and it is kind of late. So what happens when I get to the bottom? Will that be the end of me? What will I land on? Where will I find myself? The answers to these questions can't be found in a job or new location to pitch my tent. I am talking about something a bit more personal. I want to know where will I land. When the cartoon character previously mentioned finally finishes his descent, he tends to land on something solid. My hope is to land on something solid, as well. I am hoping the that solid thing I land on is my Lord. You see the neat thing about the cartoon character who goes through the fall is that, eventhough the fall is scary and sometimes very rough on the way down and the landing can sometimes be met with pain, he always gets up after he finds solid ground.

Lord, please be the solid ground where I can stand after my platform is gone and through the fall. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.