Monday, December 22, 2008

Hanging With My Family In Orlando!

We are taking some time off for the Christmas Holidays. I pray that everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas and remembers the reason for the season!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Thank You Jesus!

One of my favorite passages from Psalms today....

Psalm 16:5-8
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Thank you Jesus for all you have done for me!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Monday, December 15, 2008

"Christmas At Skipstone" Basket Raffle Winners Announced!

Here are the names drawn for the basket raffle during "Christmas At Skipstone"......

Sports Basket - Austin Eure
Family Basket - Lori McAllister
Salon Basket - Carol Eure
Scrapbooking Basket #1 - Erik Hogan
Scrapbooking Basket #2 - Kim Frey
Scrapbooking Basket #3 - Sarah Robinson
Mary Kay Basket #1 - Jamie Burford
Mary Kay Basket #2 - Denise Coker
Christmas Basket - Lynn Dorney
Princess Basket - Ted Moody (Ha! HA!)
Bulldogs Basket - Peggy Crosby
Nascar Basket - Jimmy Wade
Coffee Basket - Pam Walters

Congratulations to all the winners - PLEASE PU before Friday, December 19th (Our Offices are Closed the following week!)

Weekend In Review

I don't know how to adequately thanks the dozens and dozens of volunteers that have worked so tirelessly over the past two weekends to make "Christmas At Skipstone" a huge success. I want to especially thank our sponsors for this year's event.... Truett's Grill, Internal Medicine Of Griffin, Maxi-Lube of Griffin, and Buddy's Tire & Service Center. The generosity of these fine businesses in a struggling economy is especially noteworthy. I may forget someone if I start calling out star volunteers, but some of these ladies, men, and teenagers worked every night for the entire four hours of the event. You all are just AMAZING! Thank you to everyone who helped and to all of you who came out and visited with us!

It was after midnight before we got settled in after the last night of "Christmas At Skipstone", but we were up and at it again Sunday morning for a full day. We spent the afternoon celebrating my oldest son's 18th birthday (I know I look to young to have an 18 year old!). I had fun calling Chase our "man-child" all day, and it was a great celebration. I don't think a parent could ask or pray for their child to become anything more than what Chase has become. He loves Jesus, loves his family, respects his parents, and has more character than a lot of adults I know. I'm very proud of the young man he has become (in case you haven't picked up on that by now!)

I found this prayer as part of my devotional recently.....

A Father's Prayer
by General Douglas MacArthur
Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough
To know when he is weak and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid;
One who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,
And humble, and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds;
A son who will know Thee – and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.
Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those that fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain."

(This reflection was written by General MacArthur, during his early days in the Phillipines during the Pacific War, and was left as a spiritual legacy to his son Arthur. Made public after the general’s death in 1964.)


Today we begin the process of cleaning up after the Christmas event and working through our last week of school before the Christmas break. We have "stuff" all over the campus, so it will be a busy week getting everything back to where it belongs and returning all of the "stuff" we have borrowed!

Our Elementary kids will be on a short field trip this morning to Pike Manor Nursing Home. They will be taking some cards and gifts to the residents there and spending some time with the saints as part of our synergy study this month on "The Generosity Factor".

I hope everyone has a great week.....

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Friday, December 12, 2008

The Value Of Others

The following was part of my devotional this morning. I'm amazed at how many people I meet who are so disheartened with the church. At the same time, even having served in full time ministry for most of my adult life, I went through a season of my life when I felt the same way. One thing that God continues to show me is that His church, even with all of its faults and problems is still HIS church - the bride of Christ that Jesus died for. If you are not connected to a spiritual family somewhere, maybe this will speak to you as it affirmed some things to me this morning.

THE VALUE OF OTHERS
by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Acts 9:28--31

The Message, Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, wraps up this part of the narrative nicely: "Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country---Judea, Samaria, Galilee---the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully."

They didn't need Paul. In Tarsus he had the time to learn that he needed them. It wasn't about independence. It was about his discovering the value of dependence. Tragically, some never learn.

This is a good time to pause and make a twenty-century jump to today. Learn to appreciate and embrace the value of other people. Don't try to go out there on your own. Rather than viewing others around you as hindrances, become aware of their value. Remind yourself that they play a strategic role in your survival and your success. God rarely asks us to fly solo. When He leads us to soar the heights, there is safety in others soaring with us.

God has designed His family to be that sort of support network for all of us. Nobody can handle all the pressure over the long haul. Companionship and accountability are essential!

You may be resisting becoming an active member of a church or enrolling in a small-group fellowship at your church. You think you can go it alone, and so far your plan has worked. But it's only a matter of time before a gust of adversity knocks you off your feet, and you'll need someone to pick you up. Don't let a stubborn spirit of independence rob you of the joy of sharing your life, your weaknesses, your failures, and your dreams with others. You and I are not indispensable. You and I are not irreplaceable. God is both. It's His church. He's looking for broken vessels, wounded hearts, and humble servants, even those with bad track records who have some scars, who have learned not to hide them or deny them---people who understand and appreciate the value of others. Is that you?

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Get Fit Spiritually!

I had a busy day on Wednesday.... no time to blog. We had a great staff meeting in the morning and I had a lot of catching up to do in the office. It rained here ALL DAY, so it was just one of those days that you would rather being taking a nap!

I got home and it was still raining, so I did something I try not to do... I pondered whether or not to go to church (I am learning to make this decision ahead of time and not base it on how I "feel"!). So I did end up going and I'm glad I did. I heard probably one of the best explanations of why we need to spend time in God's word on a regular basis that I've ever heard.

Mark shared with our students about a recent "weight loss battle to the death of chubbiness" that he has entered with Bart Millard from the group "Mercy Me". It's really been funny to watch these guys....



So anyway, Mark went on to talk about his efforts to drop a few pounds and specifically how he had stopped eating certain things, quit drinking sweet tea (I'm praying for him!),etc. He said he has lost five pounds as a result. But he went on to say that he will not only have to stop eating certain things, he will have to start eating some good stuff in order to really be healthy.

He then related that to our walk with God many times. We come away from church or youth meeting with the idea that "I need to stop listening to that" or "I have to doing this", etc. While that is important, if we fail to add some things to our life, and only take away, we miss the boat when it comes to our walk with God. That's why God's word is so important. It's vital that we know what His word says if we are attempting to live according to it. Mark put it this way ..."If you are going to live your life based on a book (God's word), it might be a good idea to read it!".

While that is a simple lesson that most of us already know, I think if we are honest, sometimes we just plop open the Bible and try to find a verse that gets us through the day, rather than developing a systematic approach to study and really know God's word. I was greatly challenged to "get fit" spiritually and I pray that if you are in the same pattern that I tend to fall into from time to time, that you will take this lesson to heart as well!

Have a BLESSED day!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Bear Fruit Today!

I had a fresh reminder this morning about how important it is for us to stay connected to "the vine". Sometimes it's very easy to get caught up in the busyness of our lives, and forget that, without Jesus, we can do nothing..... nothing that is worthwhile or makes a difference in eternity.....

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”- John 15:5,8


Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Monday, December 8, 2008

Weekend In Review!

A very special thanks to the dozens of volunteers who made our first weekend of "Christmas At Skipstone" a huge success. While we don't know exactly how many guests we had, we do know that several hundred folks were here each night. I don't think I've ever seen so many funnel cakes in my life!

Paintball The Elf was probably our most popular activity. We had a couple of our staff members cruising the lake in a pontoon boat and gave guests the opportunity to fire paintballs at "the elf". It was hilarious (at least to me, since I wasn't the elf!).

Our ziplines were packed both nights for the full four hours. I'm guessing that we had at least 400 zipline riders the first two nights combined.

The kids area was also buzzing with activity with three or four bounce units and a couple of giant slides. The little ones seemed to have a blast over there as well as riding the train around the lake and back.

The dining hall was full of vendors with some very unique handcrafted items, as well as plants, jewelery, clothing, etc. It was a great chance for a lot of our guests to pick up some great gifts.

Most of the 300,000 lights stayed lit all weekend, although I'm not sure we could have plugged in another 50 light set because we were using just about every amp of power we had!

We'll be doing it all over again this weekend if you missed it the first time. Check out the "Christmas At Skipstone" link on our homepage for more information.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

It's Time To Wake Up!

We had a great unexpected blessing to our weekend by getting some last minute tickets to the Casting Crowns Christmas Concert at Phillips Arena last night. I have their new Christmas album, and have really enjoyed listening to it, but to hear it live and understand the stories behind the songs made for a very memorable time. One of the songs that Mark Hall talked about was "O Little Town Of Bethlehem". I guess I had never really considered what that song was all about. His rendition and explanation brought a whole new meaning to the song for me......

Oh little town of Bethlehem Looks like another silent night
Above your deep and dreamless sleep A giant star lights up the sky
And while you’re lying in the dark There shines an everlasting light
For the King has left His throne And is sleeping in a manger tonight
Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man And stepped into your world today
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping While you were sleeping

Oh little town of Jerusalem Looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save
Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history As a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping While you were sleeping

United States of America Looks like another silent night
As we’re sung to sleep by philosophies That save the trees and kill the children
And while we’re lying in the dark There’s a shout heard ‘cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned And has carried His bride away in the night
America, what will we miss while we are sleeping Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping Will we be sleeping

Behind the Song:“I set out to set the classic hymn “Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem” to new music and, in the process, rediscovered the song and its message. They slept through it. Bethlehem missed the birth of the Savior of the world. Jerusalem did the same with Jesus’ ministry among them. Seems crazy – til we as a nation look in the mirror.” - Mark Hall (Casting Crowns)

Wake Up America!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Countdown To Christmas At Skipstone Begins!

With less than 36 hours until Christmas At Skipstone kicks off, it would Be fair to say that we are all feeling a little anxious. While the bulk of the work is done, as my grandmother would say "the devil is in the details". We still have a LOT of details to handle today in preparation for a "practice run tonight.

We added a new "pole tree" at the entrance yesterday. It's over 30 feet tall and is absolutely stunning. I built it with the new LED lights that are out this year and I must say...."I'm Impressed". It has over 2000 lights on it and almost 700 feet of wire. It will be hard for anyone to drive by without wanting to stop in for a closer look!

As I pondered and ultimately surrendered my anxious heart this morning, this verse really spoke to me....

Phillipians 4:4-7
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We have several items that need to be picked up today and tomorrow and we are looking for someone who can pull a trailer (we have truck & trailer) who can pick up canned drinks, an ATV, a boat, etc. If you can help, please let us know.

We also need 3-4 wired microphones and 3-4 microphone stands for our Celebration Stage. If you have access to these things that we could borrow, please call the office 770-227-8966 or email me at chipmoody@bellsouth.net .

Thank you Lord for promising peace to guard my anxious heart these next 36 hours.

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Be A "Gift" To Someone This Christmas

We had a great day yesterday. It was really cold outside, but we managed to get most of the big lights ups and got a lot of loose ends tied up. I really want to thank all of our staff and volunteers for your response to our need for help. We've had great support so far!

I talked with two friends yesterday who are really struggling this holiday season. One owns a small business that is struggling, and the other is without work and is extremely discouraged. As I was praying for these two families, I was reminded through my devotional today about how we are to respond to situations like this.....

Proverbs 3:27-28 CEV
27Do all you can for everyone who deserves your help.
28Don't tell your neighbor to come back tomorrow,if you can help today.

I hope that you are planning to be a blessing to someone this holiday season with even the smallest gift of your time, talents, or treasures. Most of us, even if we are struggling, are still BLESSED far beyond what we deserve.

There are still openings for volunteers this weekend for Christmas At Skipstone.The areas we need help are:
General Drivers (army truck..must be 25 or older and trustworthy)
General Riders (must be fun)
Parking (must have good arms to give directions)
Welcomers (must be happy, fun & sweet)
Fire Tenders (must be able to keep a fire going)
Kids' Games Workers (must love kids)
Adventure Games (must love kids)
Food (must love funnel cakes)
Book Fair (must love books)

If you can help in any of these areas for a 2 hour block on Friday or Saturday, please email shondimoody@bellsouth.net or call and tell Carolyn 770-227-8966 today. Thanks so much for your help!!!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Brrgh..... Frost On The Ground At Skipstone!

There is a heavy frost on the ground at Skipstone this morning, but the work on "Christmas At Skipstone" continues. Today I'm picking up a 45ft bucket lift to build our BIG Christmas tree displays and tidy up on some of the high lights.

I hope that everyone will make time to join us for this very special event. Admission is free and there are free tickets with information at many area locations including Maxi-Lube, Truett's Grill, Internal Medicine of Griffin, Buddy's Tire & Service Center, Curry's Collision Center, Heaven 2 Earth, El Charro, American Pie Pizzeria, Souhern Pit BBQ, Serendipity, Clothesline, and many others. You can also find information on our website at skipstoneadventures.com

Here is a really cool devtional I picked up this morning by C.H. Spurgeon...
Our Holiest Example
"I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:8).

This is the way to live. With God always before us, we shall have the noblest companionship, the holiest example, the sweetest consolation, and the mightiest influence. This must be a resolute act of the mind. "I have set," and it must be maintained as a set and settled thing. Always to have an eye to the LORD's eye and an ear for the LORD's voice--this is the right state for the godly man. His God is near him, filling the horizon of his vision, leading the way of his life, and furnishing the theme of his meditation. What vanities we should avoid, what sins we should overcome, what virtues we should exhibit, what joys we should experience if we did indeed set the LORD always before us! Why not? This is the way to be safe. The LORD being ever in our minds, we come to feel safety and certainty because of His being so near. He is at our right hand to guide and aid us; and hence we are not moved by fear, nor force, nor fraud, nor fickleness. When God stands at a man's right hand, that man is himself sure to stand. Come on, then, ye foemen of the truth! Rush against me like a furious tempest, if ye will. God upholds me. God abides with me. Whom shall I fear?

Monday, December 1, 2008

WOW - What A Morning!

I guess God knew I needed a little something extra today as we get back into the groove with school starting back and the pressure of completing preparations for Christmas At Skipstone this week. Take a minute to watch this clip I found this morning....



I pray this challenges you as it did me this morning. Here a passage I read as part of my devotional this morning that really spoke to me too....

From Psalm 61: 1-4 NLT
1 O God, listen to my cry!Hear my prayer!
2 From the ends of the earth,I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
3 for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!

Have a BLESSED week!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thanksgiving Break Week Update

Although we were officially closed this week for Thanksgiving break, most of our staff have been here, working very hard to get all of the lights and decorations up for Christmas At Skipstone. I really appreciate all of the extra time these folks have invested this week in order to make our upcoming event a reality!

We did complete the burning and clean-up of Blessing Cottage. It's really strange to ride through the property and not see the cottage there..... but it made the view of the lake even more incredible. It's one more step towards developing the Pinnacle Park area.

We were attempting to "power up" the lights on the front entrance yesterday when I hit a water main with the trencher.... yee haw! I spent the afternoon digging in the mud to make the repair. It was pretty ugly, and we have a nice mud hole at the entrance now from all of my mess plus the rain last night.

We did have some technical trouble with our website that was brought to my attention last night, but I think it has been resolved.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.....

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Are You In The Christmas Spirit?

The last couple of days have been a little different for me. I can't exactly put my finger on it yet, but I'm just struggling a little bit with some "heart issues". It seems like every year as the Christmas season approaches, I seem to kind of get in a "funk" of sorts. Ironically, I grew up in a home where we loved Christmas and and I have very fond memories of my childhood relating to the holiday season. As I have gotten older, I find it harder to get into the "Christmas spirit", and have to battle with myself more than normal just to enjoy each day during the Christmas season.

I came across this passage in my quiet time today.......good stuff!

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I say to you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Soloman in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more cloth you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying "what shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Please Pray For Anna Marie Dingess Today!

We received the following update this morning from some close friends of Anna Marie Dingess. Anna is one of our kindergarten students at Skipstone Academy. Please remember her and her family today........

Hi Everyone, Anna Dingess truly needs our prayers at this time.....She was released from the hospital over the weekend and sent to a local hotel in Ohio...She had been given some meds to help with severe headaches...This morning, Joy had to completely dress her and she was very lethargic. She was re-admitted to the hospital through the ER and then she collapsed not responding to anything or anyone...They finally got her to wake up and they immediately sent her for another scan to see what was going on. They found a kink in the shunt which means that the shunt is not working....The doctors are going to try to get the kink out with medication. But, if the meds do not work, they will have to re-operate again....Joy is in Ohio alone with Anna....They both really need our prayers, love and support. If you would like to keep up with the updates, you can go to www.annamariesfight.blogspot.com Thanks & God Bless!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Historic "Blessing Cottage" Set To Go Up In Smoke Today!

One of the two original cottages on the campus of Skipstone, the two story cottage affectionately known as "Blessing Cottage" to staffers and campers from years past, will go up in smoke today.

"Blessing" is thought to have been built in the 1920s, one of two small cottages used when the property was originally a "fishing camp". Our family, as well as Mrs. Betty Riordan, who served for many years as the camp director for the Flint River Baptist Camp, each lived in "Blessing" for a season of our lives. Later, the two bedroom structure became home to our female summer staffers. It has served it's purpose well, but continues to deteriorate rapidly.

We have donated the failing structure to the Spalding County Fire Department for use as a training burn. They are set to do the training exercise today.

"Blessing Cottage" will eventually be replaced with a new pavilion overlooking the lake. Farewell old friend!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Saturday, November 22, 2008

How's Your Name?

How's Your Name?
What if a poll about "what people thought of me" was conducted around here? I wonder how my name would do in the polls. Would people identify me with Christ? Would I been seen as generous or selfish, a giver or a taker, a friend or an enemy, genuine or fake?

Maybe the bigger question is what God thinks of my name...of me? I wonder if he was thinking of me and my battle against the flesh and my own selfish desires when he divinely inspired these words from Proverbs 20

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2 Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
3 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.

What a fresh reminder of what we need to spend our lives pursuing!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Thursday, November 20, 2008

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.....Blastoff to the Space Center!

I got up early this morning to get the buses cranked up and warming. We're heading out soon for Huntsville with our Middle School students. Please pray for safety as we travel today and tomorrow and for a productive time as we enjoy the Space Center.

This will be our first "quiet" weekend at Skipstone in several months. We have had over 700 weekend guests since the beginning of August, but things will quiet down from now until the first of the year (as far as weekend groups anyway!).

We will be hanging Christmas lights on Saturday if anyone wants to help. Just email me at chipmoody@bellsouth.net and let me know you are planning to be here!

I hope everyone has a great day..... gotta go drive the bus!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Superheroes Summit / Board Mtg. / MS Trip

SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION IS NOW ONLINE! WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 250 CAMPERS REGISTERED! REGISTER BEFORE JANUARY 31st AND GET A $25 DISCOUNT! CLICK ON THE "CAMP SKIPSTONE" TAB ON OUR HOME PAGE FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION FORMS!


We had a great Board of Director's meeting last night. I appreciate the involvement of these great men and women who have provided such Godly counsel to us as we have navigated through this first year of ministry at Skipstone. You guys (and ladies) are awesome!

We are making final preparations today for our Middle School field trip to the Space Center in Huntsville tomorrow. I'll be driving one of the buses (yee-haw), so it will be an even earlier than normal start to the day tomorrow!

We will be hanging Christmas lights this Saturday , and all of next week if anyone would like to come out and give us a hand. Please email me at chipmoody@bellsouth.net if you are interested in helping out. Christmas at Skipstone is just around the corner.... December 5th & 6th, and December 13th & 14th from 6:00pm to 10:00pm nightly.

I came across one of my favorite scripture passages this morning in my quiet time. As we have been studying about space and preparing for our Middle School field trip to the Space Center in Huntsville this week, it really brought this passage of scripture alive to me this morning. Hope it is a blessing to you today.....

Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Friday, November 14, 2008

Space Center Trip Underway - Another Busy Weekend!

I talked with Shondi a couple of times yesterday, getting updates from our High School students, who are having a great time at the Space Center in Huntsville. All of the kids are behaving (so far!), and Shondi says it is really a neat experience. I'll be going next Thursday & Friday with the Middle School students (yee-haw!).

I'm picking my dad up from the nursing home today to begin his transition home. Thanks to those of you who have continued to pray for his recovery. He is much stronger and is really looking forward to getting home.

Holy Trinity Church from Peachtree City will be here this weekend with about 80 folks for a weekend retreat. These folks have been with us many times in the past and we always enjoy having them at Skipstone. Please pray for a safe and productive weekend for them.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Today's verse(s): from Psalm 73 CEV


21Once I was bitter and brokenhearted.
22I was stupid and ignorant, and I treated you as a wild animal would.
23But I never really left you, and you hold my right hand.

24Your advice has been my guide, and later you will welcome me in glory.

25In heaven I have only you, and on this earth you are all I want.
26My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever.
27Powerful LORD God, all who stay far from you will be lost, and you will destroy those
who are unfaithful.
28It is good for me to be near you. I choose you as my protector, and I will tell about
your wonderful deeds.

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

And Speaking of "Who Do You Love?"

Check out this article on Loving Out Loud....
http://www.christianindex.org/4916.article

We had the privelege of being a part of FBC Woodstock for season in our lives. It's so encouraging to see God's church being about His business!

Who Do You Love?

Just a quick verse from my quiet time this morning..... I liked it so much that I read it in several translations..... it's strong enough to keep me thinking for the day!

I John 2: 15-17 from The Message
15-17Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

New "Camp In Box" Limited Time Promotion!

Don't miss our best offer of the year for your next retreat!
Available Weekends....
January 2nd - 4th
January 23rd - 25th
February 27th - Mar1
All you do is pick up the phone and we do the rest! Don’t miss this limited time offer from Skipstone Adventures, South Metro Atlanta’s emerging new leader in adventure recreation. Book select weekends in 2009 and we’ll provide everything you need for your next retreat for as little as $99 per person.
The “Camp In A Box” promotion includes:
Round Trip Motor Coach Transportation (up to 2 hours away)
2 Nights Lodging In Climate Controlled Cabins with Restrooms
Six Delicious Home Cooked Meals (Fri. Supper – Sun. Lunch)
Zipline, Rappelling & A Ride on “The General” (our 2 ½ ton truck)
Meeting & Conference Space In Our Beautiful New Chapel
Bonfire With Marshmallow Roasting & Smores

A minimum number of 30 participants are required for this promotion. The maximum number of participants is 60. Round trip transportation is provided on climate controlled Bluebird motor coaches for groups within two hours of Skipstone’s Griffin, Georgia location. Facilitation for zipline rides and rappelling is included as well as a ride on “The General”, our “deuce & a half” six wheel drive military truck. Groups are responsible for their own camp “program”, worship services, etc. Two cabins are available for groups of 30, four cabins for groups of up to 60. Some weekends are excluded from this promotion. Call 1-877-GO SKIP 1 or email skipstone@bellsouth.net for more information

Monday, November 10, 2008

Weekend In Review

It was another busy weekend at Skipstone......

We had a group of about 70 teenage girls and their leaders here from Challenge NA. They had a very busy weekend and enjoyed some team building and zipline rides on Saturday.

My youngest son and I went to cheer on the Pike County Pirates Friday night as they battled for the Region Championship. Unfortunately, despite leading for most of the game, the Pirates lost 21-14 and finished 2nd in the Region. They did make the playoffs, and will be playing the first ever playoff game hosted by the Pirates in school history next Friday night. Great job guys.... can't wait to have you all back at Skipstone for football camp next year!

We spent all day Saturday working on the apartment for my dad, who will be coming home from Sunbridge this week. We had to cut a door thought the brick and block walls of our basement, which turned out to be a much bigger project than I anticipated, but it's coming along nicely.

I woke up early Sunday morning with a cold (I'm sure it had nothing to do with sitting in the rain for three hours Friday night at the football game!).I coughed my way through LifeGroups and Church, but I was in need of some NyQuil on the way home! It has progressively gotten worse, so I didn't get much done Sunday afternoon, and didn't get much rest last night.

Today we are having both buses serviced in preparation for our "big" field trip of the school year. we will be leaving Thursday morning (very early) for Huntsville, Alabama for an overnight experience at the Space Center there.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Friday, November 7, 2008

Take A Minute To Thank God For Your Children Today

Just a few thoughts from my quiet time this morning..... I think most of us as parents may be too focused on today, risking the possibility that we will miss the big picture. Our job is not just to get through today, but to raise our children to fulfill God's purpose for them..... and we can't do that on our own!

Here are some things I came across this morning:

"Where will our country find leaders with integrity, courage, strength—all the family values—in ten, twenty, or thirty years? The answer is that you are teaching them, loving them, and raising them right now." --Barbara Bush

Verse(s) of the Day!
Psalm 127 - from The Message
A Pilgrim Song of Solomon
1-2 If God doesn't build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn't guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
3-5 Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

A Spirit Night At Truett's Grill That Won't Be Forgotten!


I'm still feeling a little nauseated this morning from what I saw at Truett's Grill last night. It was Skisptone Academy Spirit Night, and our principal, Randy Freeman had to dress up as whatever the student body voted for, from a list of choices provided to them. The student body voted for a fairy outfit, but Randy drew the line and said "no". The second choice was a "Mrs. Shondi" oufit and here is the outcome of that................


Thursday, November 6, 2008

Christmas At Skipstone - Coming Soon!



Christmas at Skipstone
December 5, 6, 12, 13
6:00-10:00pm





The Marketplace at Skipstone
We will turn the Dining Hall into "The Marketplace" during our Christmas Celebration. Vendors so far are: The Clothesline, Serendipity, Papa Glenn's Woodworking, Creative Expressions, Custom T-shirts and Scholastic Book Fair. We are looking for more vendors. There is no charge to be a vendor, we just ask that vendors donate 10% of sales back to Skipstone. Please let us know asap if you know of someone who would like to be part of "The Marketplace".

Celebration Stage
We are looking for entertainers (singers, dancers, jugglers, magicians) to join us for Christmas at Skipstone on our Celebration Stage. If you know of someone who would be interested, please have them contact us asap. We do not pay entertainers but will gladly provide a table where they can sell promotional items (CDs, t-shirts, etc).

Santa Sumo Competition
We are looking for leaders in our communities (pastors, mayors, youth ministers, politicians, doctors, etc) who would be willing to compete in a Santa Sumo Competition sometime during the event. We have very large sumo wrestler suits and a sumo wrestling ring for this competition. If you know a pastor who would like to "beat up" his youth minister or even 2 local politicians who would like to "duke it out", please contact them and let us know asap. We only have time slots for 3 competitions each night.

Make Your Plans Now!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

New Ministries On The Way At Skipstone!

It's been even busier than usual here at Skipstone these last couple of days! We have been working on our revised budget for next year and doing some planning for next year and beyond.

We are in the process of merging the ministry of Rockbridge in to our Skipstone W.I.L.D.S program. For the last couple of months, we have been meeting with Chip Cofer & Brian Shuler, the founders of Rockbridge. These guys are awesome and God has really gifted them and given them a passion for ministry to men and boys, especially in the adventure setting.

We will be formally introducing these guys soon, but I couldn't wait to at least give everyone a taste of some of the new ministries we will be providing as a result of these guys joining the Skipstone team.

Beginning in January, we will offer an Adventure Club that will provide opportunities for young men 7-12 years of age to meet twice a month at Skipstone for adventures such as rappelling, ziplines , team challenges, special trips, and a time of study and devotion specifically designed for young men. We will be releasing more details about this very soon...... I personally can't wait to get started!

We will be conducting 5 weeks of Rockbridge Day Camps next summer on the campus of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Sandy Springs. The guys from Rockbridge have been providing day camps for several years at Mt. Vernon, and we will be providing additional support and resources to help continue and expand that ministry. They have a beautiful 15 acre low and high ropes challenge course and great facilities. This will allow us to "expand our territory" by providing some opportunities closer to our friends in the Metro Atlanta area.

In 2009 we will become much more intentional in the area of ministry to men. Several USC (Ultimate Sportsman's Challenge) events are being planned that will challenge men in a variety of sports and skill activities in an adventure filled afternoon. Each USC will end with an awards ceremony and a special guest speaker (you won't believe some of the guests we are securing for these!). These "partnership" events will be held at local churches who have a desire to reach out to the men in their communities and begin or strengthen the Men's Ministry of their church.

We will also be launching "BATTLEZONE - An Experience For Fathers & Sons".
The BATTLEZONE events will be weekend retreats where teams of 12 dads and sons sign up to compete against other dad/son teams in amazing challenges and adventures designed to strengthen the unique bond and relationship between dads and sons. We will also be going through a brief but challenging study to help guys identify and be prepared to handle the "battle zones" we each deal with on a regular basis. We are putting the final touches on "BATTLEZONE" and hope to announce our first dates very soon!

I hope that you are excited to hear about where God is leading us into these new areas of ministry. This is really just a taste of all that we are working through right now. God has given us some very clear direction that we are to be much more intentional about the ministry of Skipstone, especially in encouraging and strengthening the family. These new ministries are our first steps towards obedience in to God in this area.

Please continue to keep the Skipstone family in your prayers. It is so exciting to be a part of a ministry that God continues to lead and bless.

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Election Day - Remember This!

It's finally election day. I don't know about you, but I'm glad it will be over! If I see one more political ad I think I'll scream...... it's just been fascinating to watch this election unfold, and see the depths that politicians will go to in order to win our votes. I'm not sure that our country has ever been more divided than we are today, yet every politician promises to bring us all together.

People are crying out for change....... it reminds me of an Old Testament story in I Samuel. I don't spend as much time reading in the Old Testament as I should, but this story came to my mind as I thought about how most of us have approached this election. We all think our choice is the right one, we all think our candidate will be the miracle worker who will fix the world's problems, and we all think _______ (fill in the blank) is who we need.

Take a quick read of the cry of the Israelites from Samuel's day and see what God had to say about choosing a king. America will choose a "king" to rule over us today, but sadly I'm not sure that very many people really understand the weight and consequences of our decision, regardless of who is elected. I wonder what would happen if we prayed about this election as much as we have talked about it or thought about it?

The great news is that no matter who we elect as the next "king"today, he will not be the KING, only a king. As I mentioned several weeks ago in my blog the winner of today's election will not be a surprise to God in heaven. I can assure everyone that God and His angels won't be gathered around watching and biting their nails as the results come in on the major networks tonight. God will still be in control - Proverbs 21:1 "The LORD controls rulers, just as he determines the course of rivers". - CEV


I Samuel 8:1-21
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead [a] us, such as all the other nations have."
6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
10 Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle [b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day."
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Everyone go back to his town."

Pray Then Vote!
Chip Moody

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Weekend in Review!

Wow... what a weekend! It's Sunday night and I'm reviewing the weekend because it all went by so fast that I didn't have time to blog it!

Shondi and the kids headed out Friday after school for the Skipstone Academy Black & Gold Masquerade Party at the Pierces home. They had a good crowd and a great time...thanks Dwight & Robin for letting the middle and high schoolers invade your home.... I'm sure it will never be the same!

I went down to Barnesville to join my two radio DJ uncles for a live broadcast of the Pike County Pirates football game against Lamar County High Friday night. It was pretty cool to see the game from atop the press box and I even got a little air time on Fun 101 FM for Skipstone. The Pirates did their preseason camp here and have since gone to a school record 9-0! Next up: Callaway High School next weekend!

We welcomed a great group of singles from Intown Community Church of Atlanta for a weekend retreat at Skipstone. Shondi and I actually did some team building with the group on Saturday and had a blast. Since many of our weekend groups are teenagers and and our academy students are all kids and teens, it was kind of unusual (and pretty cool) to get to work with some young adults.... the challenges worked great and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Today was super busy...
After enjoying our extra hour of sleep, we headed to church and then lunch at Chili's (my favorite if anyone is thinking of gift cards for Christmas!).

After lunch, we rushed home to continue some rearranging of the Moody household to accommodate the construction of an apartment in our home for my dad. He will be coming out of physical therapy and rehab soon. Please pray for us (and dad) as we make the this transition.

We were back at church from 4:30pm to 7:30pm and then here to the chapel at Skipstone for praise band practice for our kids. I must admit it does a dad's heart a lot of good to sit here blogging while my kids are praising God with their instruments and voices in the background. They must have gotten their talent from me because I don't have any and they all do :)

While I'm thankful for the extra hour of sleep last night, I'm suddenly feeling like it's bedtime, but it's really only 9:00pm. I think my body likes the old time better!

Please keep our friends, Casting Crowns, in prayer this week as they continue to minister in Europe. I read on Mark Hall's blog that he has had some voice trouble while on the tour the last couple of days. These guys (and girls) are the real deal.... just great people that God has really brought forth in a big way to be used for His glory to reach and encourage people.

Have a great week!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Somewhere In The Middle

Do you ever have those days when you wake up with a song in your head that you can't get out? I'm kind of having one of those days today, but the song is deep in my heart, not just in my head.... it's something that is causing me to really pause and think about my everyday walk with God.

It was written by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns. Mark recently spoke at our chapel service here at Skipstone, and we've had the opportunity since to spend some time with him. The cool thing about "knowing" the author of the song is that the words seem so much more real because I know the author has "lived" the song.

Isn't it interesting that sometimes we find ourselves in a similar situation when it comes to God's word. It sure makes the the words of scripture more meaningful and real when we know the author and we remember that those words are HIS words, spoken to us, not just writing on a page.

Here are the words to "Somewhere In The Middle"

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You’re making me
Somewhere in the middle, You’ll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You’ll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You’re by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I’m caught in the middle

Moving From The Middle,
Chip Moody

P.S. On a side note, Casting Crowns has recently been nominated for an American Music Award. Click on the link below to cast your vote!

Vote Casting Crowns for 2008 AMAs

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Brrrh.....what happened to Fall?

It's another cold morning at Skipstone! It's kind of neat to watch out my office window this morning and see all of the kids coming in for school all bundled up. Our "human anatomy" synergy projects are due today, so a parade of eyeballs, spines, tongues, and all kinds of other "body parts" accompany the stocking caps and parkas. A little strange, but pretty cool!

I did a lot of reading in Psalms this morning. It's amazing how God can speak to the very need of our hearts if we are just faithful and consistent to spend time with Him every day, regardless of our "busyness".

Check out a few verses that really stuck with me this morning:
from Psalm 69
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
3 I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

I wonder how long it has been since my throat was worn out from calling to God, or have my eyes really ever been "strained" because I'm looking for Him so intently?

also from Psalm 69
29 I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.
30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

It's interesting to me to many of us tend to think of salvation as just a ticket to heaven, when in fact we are daily "being saved" from pain, distress, and the daily struggles of life. It seems that one of the ways we put "feet" on this idea is to praise God's name in songs, particularly songs of thanksgiving. Maybe when we sing praises of thanks for who He is, for what He has done, for what He is going to do, our problems just seem to fade in the light of His glory.

Whatever It Takes (even a sore throat and strained eyes!),
Chip Moody

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

When The Saints Come Marching In!

The saints will be marching into Skipstone today for our annual Senior Adult Celebration. Our theme to day is "Tailgate Party", so we'll fire up the grill in a little while and get ready for a great day of fun with our saints. Our special guest today will be Lanny Moody, a great Christian comedian who always does a wonderful job for us.

Please remember the family of Zach Weimer, a 12 year old young man from Knoxville, TN who was tragically killed in a zipline accident at Horns Creek Resort in Ocoee, TN several weeks ago. Our guests at Skipstone this past weekend knew Zach and his family and were, of course, very burdened for this family during this very difficult time. We also need to remember the staff of Horns Creek Resort as they deal with this accident and its aftermath. Click here to see the story as reported by the local news in Knoxville.http://www.wbir.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=884070745

Verse(s) of the day:

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
6 and may you live to see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Monday, October 27, 2008

Cold & Windy Start To The Week

Wow..... I way underestimated the sincerity of the forecasters when they called the weather for today. We had to cancel our Pumpkin Patch Party for the elementary school today because it is so cool and windy outside.

We had a great weekend.....all of the groups had a good time, everyone was safe, and I got to go to my favorite catfish place, Falls View Restaurant at High Falls and hurt myself on some fresh catfish!

I had to move my dad from the hospital to a rehabilitation center on Saturday. He wasn't very excited, and I kind of felt the same way. If you haven't been to a nursing home lately, it's easy to forget the suffering that many of our dear saints endure when the grow old. It's caused me to put a lot more thought into how I take care of my "temple" (since our bodies are God's temple) that has, at times, grown into a mega church!

Speaking of senior adults, we are hosting our annual Senior Adult Celebration tomorrow from 10am - 2pm. We will be having a tailgate party theme with some special guest and a great time of fun and fellowship for saints. This is by far one of our favorite events of the year. If you would like to participate, please call us at the office at 770-227-8966.


Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody
VP of Operations, Skipstone

Friday, October 24, 2008

Liquid Blessings Today / Busy Weekend Ahead!

Sorry we haven't updated in a couple of days. My dad took a fall during his first night home, and ended up back in the hospital less than 12 hours from being released. He is doing much better (thanks to Dr. Napier), and should come home today.

We have a VERY BUSY weekend ahead.... it's raining here all day today, so it might may our preparations a little more challenging! Please pray for these groups that will be our guests this weekend:

Mabel White Baptist Church of Macon will be having a youth retreat. Shorter College will be housing a team here that will be ministering at the NASCAR race this weekend. Solid Rock Baptist Church of Covington will be here on Saturday for a team building event. We also have a dad and son that will be tent camping this weekend.

Shondi & I will be hosting our friends David and Liz Gibson who founded and operate Deer Run Retreat near Nashville, TN. We had the privilege of visiting with them during our recent fall break from school. If you are ever in the Nashville area, they have a beautiful place. Check them out at deerrunretreat.org

Our Pumpkin Patch day has been postponed until Monday due the the liquid blessing God is proving for us to today!

Verse(s) of the day:
Psalm 104 - CEV
The LORD Takes Care of His Creation
1I praise you, LORD God, with all my heart. You are glorious and majestic, dressed in royal robes
2and surrounded by light. You spread out the sky like a tent,
3and you built your home over the mighty ocean. The clouds are your chariot with the wind as its wings.
4The winds are your messengers, and flames of fire are your servants.
5You built foundations for the earth, and it will never be shaken.
6You covered the earth with the ocean that rose above the mountains.
7Then your voice thundered! And the water flowed
8down the mountains and through the valleys to the place you prepared.
9Now you have set boundaries, so that the water will never flood the earth again.
10You provide streams of water in the hills and valleys,
11so that the donkeys and other wild animals can satisfy their thirst.
12Birds build their nests nearby and sing in the trees.
13From your home above you send rain on the hills and water the earth.
14You let the earth produce grass for cattle, plants for our food,
15wine to cheer us up, olive oil for our skin, and grain for our health.
16Our LORD, your trees always have water, and so do the cedars you planted in Lebanon.
17Birds nest in those trees, and storks make their home in the fir trees.
18Wild goats find a home in the tall mountains, and small animals can hide between the rocks.
19You created the moon to tell us the seasons. The sun knows when to set,
20and you made the darkness, so the animals in the forest could come out at night.
21Lions roar as they hunt or the food you provide.
22But when morning comes, they return to their dens,
23then we go out to work until the end of day.
24Our LORD, by your wisdom you made so many things; the whole earth is covered with your living creatures.

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

10/21/08 Update

Good day today......
GAC (Georgia Accrediting Commission) came today and we met all of the criteria (again!) for Skipstone Academy - thanks to all of our staff for a great job getting ready.

Working on Christmas @ Skipstone plans....lots and lots of details(and lights) yet to be unraveled!

Also working on Fall Fundraiser for Skipstone - Bird Brawl Skeet Shoot and Turkey Bowling on November 15th at Cherokee Rose..... and a raffle for a shotgun, some big time Bass Pro Shop gift cards and?????

Heading out soon to help decorate at the church for ALIEN NITE tomorrow night..... can't decide if I'm wearing a costume or just going as a normal alien!!!!!

Praise the Lord - my dad finally came home from the hospital today after ICU. life support, 9 days in bed!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip

Christmas @ Skipstone Preparations Begin

A quick word of thanks to a team from Oak Hill Church in Griffin who came out last night to help us begin hanging lights for our annual Christmas @ Skipstone event. With over 300,000 lights to hang, we have to get started early in order to get everything powered up in time for the event, which is held the first two weekends in December and is open to the public free of charge.

We always have volunteer opportunities here at Skipstone, so if you are looking for somewhere to invest your time in a worthwhile mission, please contact Sabrina Padgett, our volunteer coordinator, at 770-227-8966 and let her know that you would like to help.

Election Results Predicted Here Today!

Didn't sleep well last night.... lots on my heart and mind. I'm still digesting all of the events of yesterday, while anticipating the day ahead.

One of the things that everyone seems to be concerned about is the upcoming election. Regardless of which side of the aisle people find themselves on, almost everyone I talk with has an opinion, is "concerned", or at least curious about what the outcome will be.

I'm about to make a bold prediction...... I believe that God has revealed to me what the outcome of the election will be. That's right, I'm willing to go out on a limb here and publicly proclaim what I am certain will be the results of the presidential election in a few weeks......

It came to me directly from God's word in my quiet time this morning......
Proverbs 21:1 "The LORD controls rulers, just as he determines the course of rivers". - CEV

The reality is that God is ultimately the Ruler of all "rulers". I don't know if this does for you what it does for me, but if I can digest this, I can take one more "concern" off of my list today. God is not only in control of my life and circumstances today, He is in complete control of the whole universe. There are no emergency meetings in heaven to discuss the possible outcomes of the election, the global financial crisis, or anything else we are prone to worry about after we watch the evening news. GOD is in CONTROL - don't be fooled, and don't forget!

Whatever It Takes,
Chip Moody

Monday, October 20, 2008

daily update 10/20

Busy day today....
***new playground "fort" was delivered for the Academy - "Thank You" to Blake's
***had a great meeting with some guys from Eagle's Landing FBC about a winter retreat
***had a nice visit with the folks at Camp Fortson, will be working together with them on Eagle's Landing retreat in February - the place looks great, lots of remodeling since I saw it last!
***enjoyed meeting Keith, the owner of Fuddruckers on Hwy. 20 - thanks for the shakes:)

Getting ready for GAC visit tomorrow....please pray for Randy & Shondi... lots of work!

Today's Verse(s):
Psalm 119
1Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong;they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Deep Roots... God's answer to the economic crisis

Good stuff this AM in my quiet time......

From Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

5 This is what the Lord says:“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness,in an uninhabited salty land.
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

And check out the message from today's Psalms...
Ps. 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings"
Ps. 17:14 "you still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty"
Ps. 37:3 "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture"
Ps. 37:4 " Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"
Ps. 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him"
Ps. 37:18-19 "The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster, they will not wither; In days of famine they will enjoy plenty"
Ps. 77:11-14 "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples."

Why is it so hard for us to just believe what God's word says? The more I read, the more I believe that my battle lies in learning to place my trust DAILY in Him, not in my own wisdom(more a lack of wisdom really) and strength. The challenge to join God's agenda for me today and die to my own.... put down the list, walk by faith and night by sight...... good stuff