Category Archives: Writing

DAVE AND DOREEN MOORE: FAMILY AND MINISTRY UPDATE (MARCH 2026)

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I did not send a Christmas newsletter last year, so here is an update:

FAMILY

Our second granddaughter is on the way! Collins will have a baby sister. Both of their pictures are below.

Chris met Yudi (short for Yudith) during their first year of Harvard law school. They are getting married this summer in Spain. We are thrilled for them! They are currently in Washington D.C.

My forthcoming book (see announcement below) is dedicated with great joy to Reese and Yudi.

TEACHING

Doreen taught three times on Ephesians this weekend at a women’s retreat in Fort Worth. She loves being with these women and her preparation takes place over a large chunk of the year. The first draft (yes, edits were eventually made!) of her three talks came to eighty-five pages of single-spaced, eleven-point font. She makes the preparation a part of her regular time with the Lord.

I recently finished teaching a mini course on the early church with a terrific group of men. I have been doing mini courses as of late on the peculiar nature of modernity/modern times, a history of theology in America, and several weeks on John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Bunyan’s masterpiece remains, after much reading over the decades, the best book I’ve ever read on Christian formation. Confessions by Augustine is my runner-up.

Soon I will soon be fielding questions and interacting with a friend’s class at Arizona Christian University. It will revolve around my commentary on Ecclesiastes. I’m told that C.S. Lewis’s fascinating autobiography of faith, Surprised by Joy, will also be in the mix.

During the week, I meet with men for more focused one on one times. I love these times!

WRITING

Two articles of mine were recently published:

“Charles Darwin Motivates Me to be a Better Christian”

Charles Darwin Motivates Me To Be a Better Christian: Five Valuable Things That I Learned From Reading Charles Darwin’s Autobiography | EveryEthne

“Whatever Happened to Christian Education?” (scroll down to the third article)

Other Articles | Ken Boa Reflections

In 2016, Doreen and I were visiting scholars at Princeton Theological Seminary. I have been working off and on for many years on my book about trusting God with suffering. At the time, I thought I was about one year away from completion. Well, here we are ten years later, and it is now done. More coming soon on God, What on Earth are You Doing? An Honest Conversation

YOUTUBE

It has been gratifying to interact with a number of folks due to this new venture.

There are nearly 300 videos on the site. You will find several of my interviews along with my regular and under three-minute commentaries.

When PBS aired my interview with William F. Buckley, I never imagined that there would eventually be a venue (YouTube didn’t exist at the time) where tens of thousands would watch it again.

MOORE ENGAGING – YouTube

www.YouTube.com/@MOOREENGAGING

GLORIOUSLY ANALOG

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I know of at least four eminent historians who write out their research on either 4×6 or 5×8 notecards. I have interviewed both James McPherson and Allen Guelzo. I have read a Gordon Wood book. I plan to read Ron Chernow in the near future. Here Chernow says that he made 25,000 4×6 cards before writing his latest tome on Mark Twain. You will hear about it in the first two minutes.

TIM KELLER IS HOME WITH JESUS

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My Interview with Tim Keller, Endorsing My Favorite Keller Book, and Reflections on His Life…

I was hesitant to interview Tim Keller, but not for the reasons you may think. I was slated to interview him on his book about trusting God with suffering. I have read many books on the subject, so I was a bit skeptical that any fresh angles could be articulated.

I was wrong, and so very glad to do the interview which you can find here:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2014/02/04/tim-keller-on-suffering/

It was also a privilege to blurb what is perhaps my favorite Keller book:

https://timothykeller.com/books/making-sense-of-god

Keller had his critics, and some of that criticism seems well-founded. However, there are many things we can learn from his example.

Many times, God uses the most unlikely people. Keller’s awkwardness socially would not have made one think he was destined to the ministry we now know him for. By the way, Keller got a C in his seminary preaching class, not an encouraging sign that he would amount to much as a preacher.

Some other things we can learn from Keller’s life:

*Mentors are hugely influential. Keller had several, but Edmund Clowney was one of the most formative. Clowney’s kindness, learning, and commitment to Keller reminds me of the role Ambrose played for Augustine.

*Keller’s ability to synthesize material, commitment to listen well to others, free people up to use their own gifts, but most of all, his humility, are things God has honored.

*There is no Tim Keller as we know him today without Kathy Keller. If you have a spouse who is a partner in ministry (I am graced by God to say that I do), then thank God for that blessing. If you are single and looking for a spouse, be diligent to find someone who shares the vision God has laid on your heart.

*If I were asked to list a couple of specifics that make a minister used of God, I would list true piety, humility, ability to keep loyal friends over the long haul, and courage. For the latter, Keller had a powerful model in a pastor who preceded him. He is a long-forgotten name, but you will be inspired by getting to know William E. Hill Jr. Many obscure figures had a big impact on Keller.

WRITING TO PERSUADE

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Trish Hall has the background to write a terrific book on persuasion. And indeed, she has done just that. As the former op-ed. page editor for The New York Times she knows what it takes to write in a compelling way.

Various studies are mentioned in the book. These do not impede there being ample feet on the ground wisdom that helps all writers to succeed at persuasive prose.

STUCK IN THE PRESENT

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When I wrote Stuck in the Present, I was not thinking about megachurches per se, but this excerpt describes a concern that seems more formidable in larger churches:

“A community, especially a Christian one, is a group of people who share something in common that transcends socioeconomic or racial backgrounds. What Christians share is a common history—a living tradition. When we lose sight of this living tradition, we put ourselves in a perilous situation. With a sketchy understanding of our common identity as Christians, we are no longer able to have true community with one another.”

David George Moore, Stuck in the Present: How History Frees and Forms Christians, p. 93.

A WRITER WHO HAUNTS YOU…IN IMPORTANT WAYS

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Baldwin’s writing lingers because it is haunted.

His essay on his troubled father kept me up one night. He is describing terribly important things, but Baldwin is one of those gifted and visceral writers. I’m glad to have read him but he does haunt the reader to wrestle with difficult truths.

I’m sad that he never could find compelling resources in Christianity.