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Atheists Say the Darnedest Things
– A Four-Year Journey with
Bill & Lois Moore
The homepage of AtheistsSaytheDarndestThings.net features bold colors, playful graphics, and an inviting “Traveling Medicine Show” theme that sets it apart from typical apologetics websites.
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For the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of working side by side with Bill Moore and Lois Moore to bring an ambitious idea to life: a website called Atheists Say the Darndest Things. This project has been far more than a job – it’s been a personal mission, a creative adventure, and a testament to what can happen when passion meets mentorship. In this journey, I’ve worn many hats – designer, developer, strategist – all while guided by Bill’s wisdom and inspired by Lois’s artistic vision. The result is a unique online experience that merges faith with creativity in ways I never imagined.
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When Money Is No Object
– A Question That Sparked a Mission
It all began with a simple, profound question. Bill Moore, a long-time mentor and author, once looked me in the eye and asked: “What would you do if money were no object?” I knew instantly that he wasn’t expecting the usual answers. So I answered from the heart: “I would study and teach the Christian worldview.”
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Little did I know, that moment was the start of something extraordinary. Bill smiled at my answer. In his gentle, insightful way, he had uncovered my deepest passion. It turns out that was exactly what he wanted to hear. From that day on, Bill took me under his wing in a new capacity. He had a vision to equip others to defend their faith and answer tough questions from atheists, and he sensed that I could play a key role in making that vision a reality. That chance conversation transformed into a calling. Before I knew it, I was teaming up with Bill and his wife, Lois, on a project perfectly aligned with my dream.
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Bill Moore has since become my primary mentor and one of my biggest influences. (He’s no stranger to big visions – he’s the founder of Ezra Ministries and the author of numerous books like A Bartender’s Guide to Providence and A Strange Thing Happened on My Way to Hell.) With decades of experience in teaching and ministry, Bill possesses a wealth of knowledge on Christian apologetics. More importantly for me, he knew how to challenge and inspire. His question about “money being no object” was his way of making me clarify my purpose. Once I did, he ran with it. In that moment, my personal mission became a shared mission with my mentor.
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Mentorship Meets Vision
– Partnering with Bill Moore
Working with Bill has been as educational as it is inspiring. Bill often says that “knowledge and confidence coupled with prayer can change the world. With Christ before us, can you imagine anything but victory?” These words aren’t just a motto; they’re the driving force behind AtheistsSaytheDarndestThings.net. From the outset, Bill’s vision was clear: create a resource that prepares Christians to thoughtfully respond to atheist criticisms, but do it in a way that’s engaging, gracious, and even fun.
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As my mentor, Bill didn’t just dispense wisdom and content (though he has plenty of both); he actively involved me in shaping how that content would reach people. We spent countless evenings in deep discussion – sometimes in his study surrounded by towers of papers, other times over video calls with digital notes flying – figuring out how to present classic apologetic arguments in fresh, accessible ways. Bill would share his “war stories” from decades of dialogues and debates, and we’d brainstorm how to turn those insights into interactive web pages. One of Bill’s greatest gifts is storytelling, and he envisioned the site itself as a kind of story or journey for the user. My challenge was to translate that into a digital format.
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The question “With whom am I at war?” became one interactive segment on the site, and the idea of a “Traveling Medicine Show” became a central theme in our design and content. (Bill likes to humorously portray certain outspoken atheists as modern-day snake oil salesmen – “atheism’s traveling medicine men,” as he calls them – pitching ideas that don’t ultimately cure the soul. This playful theme gave our project its name and a creative spark.) Under Bill’s guidance, we structured the site into sections that mirror real-life conversations: “27 Typical Questions” skeptics ask, “Quips & Rejoinders” with witty answers, and even a Bootcamp for deeper training. Every section was born from Bill’s outline of what a well-equipped believer should know. My role was to help mold these ideas into an engaging online curriculum – to take Bill’s wealth of knowledge and package it for the web audience in a digestible, inviting way.
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Throughout this process, Bill has been more than just a content expert; he’s been a true partner. He encouraged me to contribute ideas, and he trusted me to make design and tech decisions he admittedly wasn’t comfortable making on his own. In turn, I trusted his instincts on substance and tone. This mutual trust became the foundation of our collaboration.
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Bill Moore on our collaboration: “I had a vision for this site, but it took Justin to bring it to life. He not only handled the technical complexities, but also helped shape how we present each idea. The result is beyond what I imagined – a site where wisdom and creativity meet.”
(Bill’s generous words, highlighting how our combined efforts made the site possible.)
Design Meets Creativity
– Lois Moore’s Artistic Touch
No story of this project is complete without Lois Moore, Bill's loving wife and the interior designer and the creative heart of the site’s look and feel. Lois is a seasoned designer with an incredible eye for detail and aesthetics. From day one, she infused the project with a sense of style and polish that truly sets our site apart. Under her leadership, we set out to make Atheists Say the Darnedest Things a visually captivating experience – something you feel as much as you read.
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Lois often reminded us that the medium is part of the message. We weren’t building just another ministry blog; we were crafting an immersive environment for learning and dialogue. With that in mind, she developed a bold visual theme for the site. Drawing on Bill’s “traveling medicine show” metaphor, Lois created a design that feels a bit like stepping into a vintage carnival tent of ideas – bright colors, whimsical graphics, and a hint of old-time theatrics. The homepage greets visitors with vibrant banner stripes and playful imagery that immediately signal, “this is not your ordinary apologetics site.” Navigational elements were turned into interactive graphics – you don’t just click a boring menu link; you might click on a floating speech bubble or a character illustration to dive into a topic. Every pixel was deliberate, and Lois was the mastermind behind it.
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Working with a professional designer of Lois’s caliber was an education in itself for me. She taught me to think about how design can guide a visitor’s journey. For instance, she used color-coding for different sections: a skeptic’s challenge might appear in one color scheme and the response in another, subtly cueing the reader’s mind. She incorporated animations (you’ll find quirky GIFs of animals and characters sprinkled throughout the site) to add humor and break up heavy topics. Even the typography and layout were chosen to balance seriousness with playfulness – serious enough to handle weighty questions, but playful enough to keep visitors engaged.
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Lois also insisted that the site be visually accessible and responsive. We spent extra time ensuring the design looks great on a big desktop monitor for classroom use and on a smartphone for someone browsing on the go. Her design mockups were works of art; my job was to turn those into reality without losing the magic. Through close collaboration – plenty of back-and-forth, tweaking CSS styles and adjusting image placements – we achieved a final design that we all think is fun.
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Lois Moore on the design philosophy: “I wanted visitors to feel intrigued the moment they land on the site – almost like walking into a circus tent of ideas,” recalls Lois. “The playful graphics and bold colors were all chosen to invite curiosity and encourage exploration, while still focusing eyes on Bill’s wisdom. Our goal was a site that sparks wonder as much as it delivers truth.”
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Lois’s creative fingerprints are all over the site. From the logo to the page backgrounds, her vision shaped the site’s identity. Under her art direction, the website became an extension of Bill’s message in visual form: it’s warm, inviting, a little quirky, and completely unique. Many visitors have commented that the site feels unlike anything else they’ve seen – which is a huge credit to Lois’s leadership in design.
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Bringing It to Life – My Role in Design,
Development & Strategy
With Bill steering the content and Lois orchestrating the aesthetics, I found myself in the role of the bridge between vision and reality. As the web developer (and a designer in my own right), I was responsible for bringing all the pieces together into a functional, smooth, and engaging website. Over the last four years, I’ve poured my skills and heart into this project, taking on everything from technical development to content strategy.
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In essence, my role has been to make sure the technology serves the message. I’ve been equally comfortable debugging code as I’ve been brainstorming theology – and this project demanded both.
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There were times it felt like I was juggling a dozen hats – and I loved it. On any given day I might be an SEO optimizer (ensuring the site can be found by those searching questions), a UX designer (tweaking a button color for better clarity), a copyeditor (polishing a caption), and of course a programmer (fixing a pesky mobile menu bug). This project allowed me to blend all my skills, and seeing everything come together has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my career.
More Than a Project
– A Personal Journey of Growth
Looking back on these four years, I am filled with gratitude and amazement. This project started as an idea, grew into a collaboration, and has since become a cornerstone of my personal and professional life. Brushwood Press (my personal brand) is all about combining storytelling, faith, and technology – and Atheists Say the Darnedest Things has been the perfect embodiment of that mission.
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On a personal level, working with Bill and Lois has been a journey of growth. Bill’s mentorship has deepened my understanding of the Christian worldview immensely. I often joke that I got a free seminary education sitting at Bill’s kitchen table during our content sessions. But it’s true – I learned as much as I built. Each tough question we tackled on the site was first a tough question we discussed at length. Bill patiently walked me through philosophical and theological concepts, strengthening my own foundation even as we created tools for others. Lois’s influence taught me to never underestimate the power of beauty and presentation. I gained a new appreciation for how design can amplify truth by drawing people in and helping them focus. Her professionalism and artistic flair pushed me to refine my craft, pay attention to details I might have overlooked, and always consider the user’s visual experience.
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There’s also the human side of collaboration – the laughter and camaraderie that develops when you work closely with people over a long period. We’ve had our late-night work marathons (peppered with coffee and humor), our eureka moments when a concept finally clicked, and our celebrations at launch milestones. We’ve prayed together over this project, dedicating it to God and asking that it would help even just one person grow in confidence. Those are bonds and memories I treasure.
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This webpage itself, on BrushwoodPress.com, is a testament to that incredible collaboration. I wanted to share the story here not only to showcase the work I did, but to honor the people who made it possible. Bill once asked me what I’d do if I had all the freedom in the world – and because of his guidance, I’m now doing exactly that. How many people can say a mentor helped turn their dream into reality? I can. And for that I’m profoundly grateful.
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Atheists Say the Darnedest Things is live, growing, and touching lives. It has a special place in my portfolio and in my heart. Every time I see the website’s homepage, with its bright design and the words “Welcome to the War!” emblazoned across it, I recall the journey behind the scenes – a journey of faith, friendship, and creativity. It reminds me that when passionate people unite around a clear purpose, amazing things can happen.
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Looking Ahead
Our work is not done. The site continues to evolve – we’re regularly adding new content as fresh questions arise and new challenges to faith emerge in the culture. Bill is brimming with ideas for future videos and perhaps even a podcast, and I’m already sketching out how those might integrate into the site. We’re also exploring ways to foster more interaction, perhaps via a community forum or live Q&A sessions embedded right on the site. The strategy and design we established are a strong foundation, and they’re flexible enough to grow with these new initiatives.
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Personally, I’m excited to keep pushing the envelope of what a website like this can be. The intersection of education, storytelling, and web technology is where I thrive, and this project has only stoked that fire. If anything, these four years have prepared me to take on even bigger projects (and certainly have given me a few ideas of my own for the future!).
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But no matter where future endeavors lead, Atheists Say the Darnedest Things will always stand as a highlight of my career – a project where I was able to pour all of myself into something that truly matters. It’s a reminder of why I started Brushwood Press in the first place: to create content and platforms that speak to the soul, that challenge minds and inspire hearts.
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In closing, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Bill and Lois Moore. Bill, for trusting a then-up-and-coming developer with your “baby” and for mentoring me with patience and vision. Lois, for proving that design isn’t just about making things pretty – it’s about making things meaningful – and for collaborating with such positivity. This webpage is as much a tribute to you both as it is a showcase of the work we’ve done together.
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To anyone reading this on BrushwoodPress.com, I hope this story gives you a sense of the passion and care behind the projects I undertake. If you’re curious to see the outcome of this particular journey, I invite you to visit AtheistsSaytheDarndestThings.net and experience it for yourself. You’ll not only see the final product of our collaboration, but hopefully you’ll catch a glimpse of the heart and soul that went into it.
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Thank you for reading this story. And remember – when purpose, creativity, and collaboration come together, something truly special is born. This is the story of one such thing we built. I can’t wait to see what comes next.