The Really Good

This one goes in the good category - for sure.


I can't believe we've reached our 1 year anniversary mark of pastoring Jasper Church of the Nazarene. It has gone so quickly! So much has happened over the last year - just check out our blog's history! Life at the church has its frustrating moments, but I think that's true of any group of people who attempt to journey through life together. We are all learning together to love God and love each other. 


Our people are wonderful and the church is blossoming. Not only are we remodeling some of our physical spaces but we're also asking God to remodel the way we see others. We want to see and love the world the way that he does. We're building relationships with people in our community who desperately need to be loved. Overall, I think life here with the flock God has given us is even better than I expected it would be. When we hear other pastors talk about the things that they are dealing with at their churches it makes us feel very blessed to be where we are. Our people are very enthusiastic and supportive. They really are excited about what God is doing in our midst. They truly love us and I think of them as family. I would honestly be devastated if we had to leave. I can't imagine not living here with them.


It is inspiring to watch God use our very imperfect efforts and work in ways that transform people at the very heart of who they are. I can't tell you how often I feel  like a 6 year old with glue covered hands and marker on my face - holding up my homemade, macaroni necklace to God - hoping he'll like it. But when we offer what we have with a loving heart, I truly believe God treasures it much like mothers who treasure those homemade gifts offered by their loving children. 


We aren't the flashiest show in town, but we sincerely seek to love "the least of these" - realizing first and foremost that we fall into that category ourselves. It is our belief that no one is ever scared into loving Jesus. Fear never inspires love. No one is ever shamed or belittled into loving Jesus. Those things may inspire rigid obedience, but never love. Love is a completely different thing. There is no equation for it. No boundary. No 3-step plan. Nothing fancy or pretentious to this way of life. We are much less concerned with dignity than we are with loving people as they are, until they sense the love of Jesus. That's our only plan. :)


I recently prayed with a young woman at the altar and helped her to open her heart to Jesus. I've prayed with and for many people, but I had never done that before and it was a very humbling experience. There is something very powerful about being there when heaven and earth so clearly meet one another. Its almost like your heart stops for a moment and when it starts up again its beating in a whole new way. I'm sure I'll never forget that first experience, but I hope many more follow. In the last two months we've also had two young men get saved who have struggled with drug addiction. We are working to encourage and disciple them as they learn how to live like Jesus. It is a testimony to God's unfailing grace that they are beginning to walk a new path that is marked with light and hope. We thank God for his faithfulness to us, our church, and our community. Pray with and for us as we continue on into our second year!


We hope that you are also sensing God at work all around you,


Mandy and Kevin

Fearlessness

We're adding a new category to our blog. The insane category.

Last Saturday Kevin and I took 26 teenagers and young adults whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River. 

In the week prior to the trip I'm pretty sure I answered the question, "What happens if I fall out of the raft?" no less than 5763 times. I kept having visions of that Kevin Bacon movie - The River Wild while mentally rehearsing scripts of what I would say to parents when I brought home a child that was seriously maimed or otherwise gravely injured.

You guys know how I feel about conflict.  arugments.  strife.

It makes my stomach ache. I break out in a cold sweat and my hands start to shake. 

But, regardless of my instinct to lock them in the nice, safe, dry van, I looked my fear in the face.

I stared that river down.

And I said: "Please take Kevin. Not me. He's lived longer than me. And the kids...they love me..."

Just kidding.

Anyway, rapids are classified on a scale of 1 to 5. One being the waves a baby deer makes when lapping water from a bubbling forest stream and five being waves reminiscent of those toward the end of The Little Mermaid when Ursula the Seawitch meets her well-deserved fate. 

Our crew kept to the class 3 and 4 rapids. I did promise their parents I would bring them home with all their arms and legs, you know.

We were about to start our watery adventure (or plunge toward imminent death) and I was worried - 5 seconds from calling a timeout. There were several reasons for this irrational fear. 


1. My rafters couldn't lug the raft down the ramp to the water.


2. One of them toppled into the water while climbing into the raft.


3. At one point the guide said, "This is going to be terrible if you guys can't paddle any better than this!" 


4. At another point the guide looked at one of my girls and said, "Honey, your paddle's not even touching the water."


About halfway through our run down the gauntlet of death, one of my girls slid out of the raft to float in a guide-approved stretch of calmness - and then couldn't climb back into the boat. In the process of getting her to the river bank so she could climb in, our guide ran us into a giant pine tree (being short came in handy) which launched girl # 2 into the water. They were dropping like flies.


Now I know why lifejackets and helmets are mandatory.


I have to confess that I was no help. completely useless. I had no idea what to do but try not to fall out myself.


Eventually, everyone made it back in and we continued on our way. By the time we reached the last rapid our paddling had improved 400% and our guide was no longer begging God to dry the river up like the Red Sea to save him from our ineptness at water sports. 


What can I say? I'm from Indiana. Its a landlocked state.


Check out our perilous version of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" below:

ITS COMING.

ITS HERE... This is my raft. I am the one in the front left - wiping 9 gallons of water out of my face after almost being swallowed alive by the river. 

Kevin is in the middle on the left - gray t-shirt. about to fall out of the raft.

Yep, he fell out. 

Kevin - 0

River - 1

[SIDE NOTE] Let it be known that Mandy Knight did not fall out of her raft at any point during this experience.

Looking death in the face - and giggling. Yes, they were giggling. No screaming in terror. No begging for their mothers. 

Our college kids flipped their raft....no casualties...unless you count one pair of water shoes, and Laura's big toe. 

My raft again - I've got the red t-shirt on in the front - doing my best to at least drown gracefully.

When the river bank finally came into view at the end I was exhausted. I turned to the kids - counted heads - and said, "Wanna do it again?" Dumb question - of course they wanted to. And I want to also! It was awesome....nerve racking...but awesome.

It looks like we have a new summertime tradition. And since no one needed stitches or an ER visit I count it a success. 

Until next time,

Mandy

P. S.   The Official List of Injuries Incurred by 28 People in 5 Rafts on 1 Trip Down the River   

          1 jammed big toe

          1 bruised knee (falling out of afore mentioned raft)

          1 swollen knee

          1 sprained foot

          1 smashed nose (paddle to the face)

          6 bruised arms (lifejacket burn)

          1 squished hand

          6 near drownings (remember the flipped raft?)

          3 chipped fingernails

Nearing the Finish Line

Its been 6 months and we're finally putting the finishing touches on the long awaited youth room. Soon it will be time to rip into those Ikea boxes and accessorize! This Wednesday night the teens will start meeting upstairs in their new space. They will be sitting in folding chairs in the midst of vast emptiness but they are thrilled! And as much as I love them - I am thrilled to get my living room back. :)


Feast your eyes on this pictoral tour....

These aren't just any set of unfinished laminate stairs....they guard the entrance to the NYI Fortress of Solitude - no "little kids" allowed. 

Sorry its a little dark but this is the view from the top of the stairs. 

The "snack counter" - our magnum opus. Its my FAVORITE part.

 It will be finished in angle iron, faux aluminum siding, and glass tile. Awesome! The stools have yet to arrive.

The main wall. There's actually a big TV hanging up there in the middle now. Hopefully, they'll have their own worship band soon - hence the stage. 

Colors chosen: Coffee and Sunrise Beach. It even sounds delicious. 

We've come full circle - you're now facing the stairs again. This little nook will house the 3 - in - 1 game table. Air hockey. Pool. Foozeball.

The Next Frontier - Children's Church. 

Maybe this side will go faster. Cross those fingers and toes. Better yet - bring those fingers and toes to Jasper and pick up a sanding block. a paint brush. a hammer. We could really use your help.

Almost there,

Mandy