always beyond my hopes

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:20-21

This has been a personal favorite for a long time because of the constant reality it has been in all my life experiences. As many of you know, when Derek and I first moved to Oregon we, like most others, did not have jobs. It was a difficult reality for me to face that I'd be venturing into the sub world after having what I considered to be the all time best teaching experience. I wrestled through it for 2 years having the verse above help carry me through (and of course the Spirit!). Like most times in life, I knew, but did not quite fathom how true this scripture is of God. I am so very grateful for the transformation God performed in my life, and Derek's, as I subbed. That is what has been best for me spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically...in all the ways only God really knows.

Never had I imagined that I'd be in the position in which I find myself now. I have been provided a teaching position for the upcoming school year. I will be job sharing with a very admirable and experienced teacher part-time. And, like always, the situation I find myself entering into is far beyond anything I had imagined. I'm so glad that God "determines our steps" as the Proverb states. And, it gives me further joy to know that this is not the last time that I will be in awe of God's work and character! Please rejoice with me in this truth and give Him glory for His goodness.

Staci Nickleson

Pictures tell all...

I haven't written in forever. So again, the pictures will have to tell all. Long story short, visited family in Indiana, Elias shot his first rifle, Jael played dress-up, the kids played with puppies and pigs, went back to Eugene, the kids posed for pics on top of Skinner's Butte, Elias broke his leg playing football, he's on his 3rd cast, we had Easter at Lawrence Street Chapel, and that's about it.

Hope all of you who are reading this are well.

Clint

Slow down and rest

Side note: I'm pretty sure, ever since I was born I was a child that was always busy. I rarely sit still. It's almost impossible for me.

But lately I've been just "sitting" (haha!) on the thought of being still and resting. I wonder how possible it really is to just be still and know that God is God? We all have our endless obligations to attend to and our calendars are already filled up to the max. But I still yearn to be still. Are we created for that? I sure think so. Why else would God have declared the sabbath a day to rest? Ok, so my mind can wrap around all of the logic behind rest. I get it. But why don't I do that more regularly?

I am laughing currently as I am sitting here on my couch, icing my twisted ankle, and realized what a perfect time to just rest. Hmmmmmm...yet here is what is really on my mind. Ugh, I have laundry to do but I'm pretty sure it would take me 20 minutes to get up and down the basement steps. I need to run errands so that I can be ready for the week. I could wash the dishes that are sitting in the sink, but my ankle would probably hate me. I need to go to the library, but again stupid ankle. Excuses, excuses, and more excuses. I just keep thinking about all of the things I "need" to be doing. But what about just taking today to rest in Jesus?

I'm not wired to slow down and rest. I'm wired to go, go, and go some more! But then there are those times when something happens (twisting an ankle) that forces you to slow down and rest. I'm pretty sure God is a humorous God who is looking at me right now laughing, saying how good he got me now! Sometimes it just takes work to slow down, especially if you are like me.

Who knew that my twisted ankle would remind me to slow down? God knows what he's doing. :)

Much love,
Stacie

Family Pics and rambling thoughts

Thought I would post some pics of the family since it's been forever since I've last been on here. I really have good intentions about blogging more often but then don't seem to follow through. My bad! Anyway, things are good from the McKinnis family of 4 in Eugene. We had a good Christmas even though it was kind of tough being away from parents and grandparents in Indiana. We cut down our own tree this year and I hung lights in our apartment. It looked like a college dorm room when I finished it, which really wasn't what I was going for! Elias is still enjoying school. He does such a great job of listening but he's kind of a "tattle tell." He always wants to point out to the teacher if someone is doing something wrong or not listening. We think he has a little crush on a girl in his class. He always looks forward to Fridays when she's in his class. I guess he's starting young...ha! Jael still has blond hair and blue eyes so I'm not sure how that worked out. She is absolutely beautiful and loves to play and joke around. She is at such a fun age right now and is just so full of life. We really couldn't be prouder parents of both our children.

Rachel is doing well. She continues to excel at being a mother, wife and basically the smartest person in our family! I continue to be amazed at how God has gifted her and how she always seems to have such profound wisdom to share. She really has a gift of wisdom and discernment. Our family is so blessed by her gifts, as well as our church.

Speaking of church, we are continuing to pursue the mission of demonstrating the kingdom of God here in Eugene. We are developing close friendships here and we continue to ask God to soften the hearts of our neighbors in this city. We are currently journeying through the Gospel of John right now as a community. Last night we discussed John 6 where Jesus says "do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life." We talked about how food that spoils represents more than just physical food but anything other than Jesus that we are tempted to place our belief, trust, or hope in for nourishment, fulfillment, and life. It was good to hear our church body share how God has continued to teach them this lesson and how we are all constantly being called by God to deeper waters of faith and trust in him.

I want to leave you with a Psalm that has given me hope for a city that by in large loves creation but not the Creator.

Psalm 19:1-6 (The Message)
God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.

Theirs words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome! The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.

That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.

God, please warm hearts to faith in Eugene!

Clint

Absence

So, I noticed that it has been quite a while since I have posted any thoughts on our blog. I don't know exactly why that is. During my absence from the blog, much has happened here in Eugene. Staci and I have moved to a new apartment, adopting Drew as our roommate (or maybe he adopted us), I have made a few job transitions, and new friendships have been established. We just got back not too long ago from spending some time with family in Indiana, and now are back into our daily routines. Amidst all of this, I think often about our Church here, okay, I think about it most all the time, and I am in awe of the fact that God has trusted us to be in this place during this season. My thoughts continually go the first century Churches that Paul, Peter, John, and others wrote about in the New Testament. You see, these Churches were planted in places that had little background on who God was (or is), who the person of Jesus was, and had many competing spiritual paths. I think a lot about Paul and how he spent much time getting to know the culture of many of these places, and through that, connected with them. He was fully present in those locations. In fact, he spent years in Ephesus making tents and meeting with people. He was not absent, not some preacher who locked himself in an office inside a church building writing sermons. He molded his messages to the culture of the community and presented the Gospel in all its truth. Jesus did the same thing. He met people where they were at, loved them, healed them, and taught them the truths of God. He was fully present. And now, by His grace, we are inhabited by the Holy Spirit who is fully present with us as we journey through this earthly life. When I think about these things, I realize that absence was not an option for God. He desired to be present in the lives of His people. He is continually present in His Creation now, and He desires for people to know this. As Paul understood, to communicate this to communities of people who had little background or misconceptions of God, you must be present with them, build relationships, and love them. I love Eugene. I love the people here and have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Eugene so far. As Staci and I were walking this morning, I realized that we live in a beautiful place, and that God desires us to be fully present here. He is never absent from our lives and I desire to live in a way that avoids being absent from the people of Eugene.

Strings of memories

I don't know where to start with this. To be honest, I've tried to write this little journal entry 2 previous times (both of them I deleted). So I sit here procrastinating other things to attempt try #3.

In my staff lounge there are some things hanging on the wall. There's 2 long thin pieces of string with small, cute paper clips attached. Attached to those paper clips are little squares of fabric. On the little pieces of fabric are memories written down for two incredible special ladies. Both are co-workers. One string belongs to a lady who was diagnosed with a brain tumor last spring and is currently not doing well. The other string belongs to a lady who has stage 4 lung cancer and has never smoked in her life. Oh they are beautiful strings of memories.

I wrote one today and clipped it on the string. I have one more to write and have until tomorrow to write it and am still unable to think of what to put on that little piece of fabric. Oh string of memories you are seriously breaking my heart.

I love this little project and it brings me so much joy. It's a gift that I know these ladies will truly love and cherish. Yet all I can do is cry thinking about it because I can see the faces of the ladies reading, or have them read to them, the little pieces of fabric. And as I envision them reading them I see tears run down their faces. I know they will be tears of joy.

So as I process this holiday season I am starting to think more and more about what I would write on a little piece of fabric for the people in my life that I care about. I challenge you to think more about how much people mean to you during this season and maybe even pass them a note telling them so.

Much love,
Stacie :)

He uses the weak

These last several months we’ve been in the book of John. Just a couple of weeks ago we came to the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. There is such beauty in this interaction. As I read and prayed over the passage I realized that this encounter is completely loaded with truth, challenge, and love. One thing that really struck me that I’d never really noticed before is the utter beauty in the Samaritan woman being the one to share the truth of the Messiah with her town.

The Samaritans already were looked down upon because of their history and the fact that they were “half breeds.” I know this sounds harsh, but it’s just the way it was then. Back in the day these were some of the people corrupting the Jews because they did not worship God. However, some began to learn. So, already she was of low status because of these things; then, on top of it all, she herself was an outcast within her own culture because of the lifestyle that had caused her to have many husbands, etc. Sadly, she was the low of the low. She didn’t even go to collect water at the well during the cool hours of the morning and likely because she made every effort to avoid the company of the other woman that surely had a poor opinion of her.

But, the beauty of it is Jesus goes out of his way to show up at this well when she is there. He speaks to her and surfaces her life of many husbands. He shares with her that He has a fulfilling and abundant life to offer her and tells that He is the Messiah she’s heard about. When she hears this she runs directly to an audience who doesn’t think the best of her, she openly exposes herself to them again but this time with hope, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” And, they immediately leave the town and follow her to Jesus.

“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

But, God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are…” 1 Cor. 1:26-29

God can use, will use, and does use the most unlikely (in our minds, or society) people to reveal Himself and His glory. I want to invite this into my life. I want to leave that opportunity open to all, not just the people who make me feel comfortable or good about my own status.

And, shouldn’t I, then, desire to be weak and low and despised in this world?

Staci N.

life.is.messy.

life is messy, right? well, it might not be messy to some people and i really can't speak for everyone. i'll just speak for me. my life, in it's current state, is messy. i live by my regular day to day activities, while juggling the other stuff that suddenly just pops up out of nowhere, which is usually the messy stuff. by messy i mean, being hurt, stresses, unrealistic expectations, or anything that you can think of and remember that is usually, but not always, negative.

in these moments i really try to dig deep into God. i have prayed, read, and listened to music that help soothe my soul, yet i still feel empty, but i don't feel alone. i even tried to repeat over and over again that i am ok. i was not ok and it's ok that i wasn't ok. life.is.messy. david understood that in the psalms. he got it and helps me to be ok with not always being ok.

part of me fights to keep everything together at all times. seriously, ugh, i hate that about me. who really wants to admit that you aren't ok? what good does it do to hold it all inside? i know i'm not freed from a lot of my junk when i keep it all inside that's for sure.

thank you God for your patience in your body. we don't get it half the time, well maybe like most of the time. there is nothing more than a body of believers getting together, sharing in their own messiness, and being freed. it makes me want to share, to be real, to be vulnerable, and to not be fearful that i am living life along. i want to meet people where they are in their own brokenness. we are all jaded, hurt, and live in some pretty messy lives. my life might not seem that messy to you or your life might not seem that messy to me, but somehow, someway, we are learning how to meet each other right where we are. God is definitely up to something bigger with us. He's even up to something bigger with His church.

John 10:10 is what i hear when i can't hear anything else.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

much love,
stacie :)

What a weekend!

This past weekend we had a group of 9 people come from Indiana and California. Paul, Marsha, and Caleb Schlegel, Brett and Claire Black, Adam and Rene Everhart, and Greg and Kim Snodgrass (I hope I spelled everyone's name right...). Anyway, they came late on Friday night and took a red-eye home on Sunday night. They came to spend some time with our church plant and help out with a community event our church hosted this past Sunday for the poor and hungry of Eugene.. The event was in partnership with a Christian ministry in Eugene called Free People (www.freepeopleeugene.com). Their mission is to serve the poor of Eugene/Springfield and they have been a tremendous blessing to Awakening Church. Anyway, we rented out a performance hall in Eugene and threw a party with free food, clothes, and live music. It was a great day and we served nearly 450 plates of food. We are so thankful for our friends from Indiana and California who sacrificed work days, money, and time away from family and friends to come and spend a couple of days with us. Their time and presence encouraged us so much. Our church loves it when people come and visit us. We love to host people and show off our city. So if you're thinking about coming out, we'd love to have you.

Anyway, thank you so much to our friends from Indiana and California who encouraged us so greatly this past weekend.

Just for the fun of it, I put up some recent photos of the family, Halloween, pumpkin patch, and this past weekend. Enjoy!

Clint

Grace

I am called to worship and live my life for Jesus. It's not just a calling, it's what gives me the most joy. Yet I fail so much at it. I'm not sure I will ever understand the full extent of grace, but one thing that sticks out to me the most is a psalm that talks about how we may stumble, but God will never let us trip. Thank goodness! I don't know about you, but there are so many times where I just feel like I am walking around, barely able to stand up anymore. We can easily stumble over anything, but God will not let me trip and fall down so hard that I just can't get up again. He's not going to beat me up, but I sure do.

Grace.

He does love me so much that he continues to grab me in His hands and balances me. I would say that I sometimes forget how much God loves me, but in actuality I think I forget that more than sometimes. I need help remembering that I am loved. It makes me extremely grateful, more than ever, to be journeying with people that share with me that I am loved and give me more grace than I deserve.

Grace and Love,
Stacie

This past year (plus a few months) has been a time that I cannot seem identify the stages, or the words with which to describe the stages, God has taken both my husband and I through (hence, the very few blogs!). 14 months ago Derek and I moved to Eugene with the purpose in mind of sharing abundant life, love and rescue offered through Jesus. Never had I imagined what God had in store for our own lives in order to experience that ourselves. And, it's funny now looking back and recalling Derek's boldness and prayer for God to bring suffering into our lives that we may grow and really experience Him...boy, oh boy!

The best I can think to describe this past year for us is a constant state of confusion. Confusion at what our lives are going to look like and how to pursue that next step when we don't even really know what we were stepping toward. I am coming to realize that perhaps the confusion comes from the fact that our hearts and perceptions have been taken to the furnace and are being reoriented from our old ways when the next step was clear to us: advance and climb the ladder this world has created. God has really been patient with us as we continue to learn what He values versus what this world values; and, unfortunately, what I had unknowingly begun to value over Him. While I continue to seek God's guidance and struggle to let go, I am thankful and hopeful that our pursuit is shifting from this "earn more" mentality to "seek ye first the kingdom..." While God could very rightfully keep us in a state of constant confusion as we grasp for some sort of handle of what's next, He is merciful and gives us these undeserved moments of grace and gifts of hope. God is God. He is not required to show any sort of tangible evidence that He is faithful and in control. And, I really ought to be able to just believe. Yet, He allows me a moment, an experience that I can grab onto and rejoice in. He is worthy.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Eph. 3:20-21

Staci

Chowder with Crowder

What a story I have to share with you! As many of you know, Elias has been a gigantic David Crowder fan since he was born (seriously). Anytime we would play David Crowder he would just chill out and just focus on the music. As he grew older he began to sing David Crowder songs and watch concerts of the David Crowder Band. His grandpa got him a guitar and he would play along and mimic everything David Crowder did on the DVD. In the last 6-9 months he began to get really into drums. He began talking about Bwack, the drummer for the David Crowder Band. He would set up boxes, clothes baskets, and pretty much anything else that made sounds and would bang those things like crazy. In all reality, Elias amazes me with his rhythmical ability at such a young age.

Anyway, a couple of months ago we heard that the David Crowder Band was coming to Eugene for their new Church Music concert. We freaked out needless to say. We told Elias about it and he freaked out! Well, in true Rachel and Clint form we procrastinated about buying our tickets until 2 days before the concert. Truly, we were hesitant in buying 3 tickets because it was pretty expensive for us. Two days before the concert, Rachel was listening to the Christian radio station and they had a contest to win 2 Tickets to the David Crowder Band Concert. On top of that, the winner would get to meet the band before the concert over some Clam Chowder Soup (hence "Chowder with Crowder"). Anyway, Rachel called in and submitted her name in the morning. I didn't think twice about it, but later that evening Rachel got a call from the radio station and she had won. ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!! We flipped out! (I would like to think that God was rewarding us for our procrastination but I don't think that's it...ha!) So we headed to the concert 2 days later and took Elias with us. We got to meet and hang out with the David Crowder Band and Elias got to talk with David Crowder and Bwack. Elias was kind of shy. I don't think he knew what the do since he watches them on TV all the time. Anyway, the band was so cool and friendly and we thanked them so much for their time. We took some pictures and then went to the concert. Elias had a blast and played the air drums all night long. It ended up being way past his bed time and he actually feel asleep for the last two songs.

It was an incredible night and Rachel and I were so grateful that God had given us this beautiful gift. Elias will never forget that experience. It kind of reminded us of Matthew 7:7-12. Rachel and I, not being nearly perfect, were able to give our son a good gift. How much more does our perfect father in heaven want to give good gifts to us. What an incredible God we serve!

Clint

P.S. Elias didn't want to stop and take pictures during the concert...thus the not so happy facial expressions...ha!

Few Words...Many Pics

So, I noticed that I haven't written since July 6th. Wow!!! My bad! There has been way too much happen since then for me to try to write it all. So I'll summarize the big things and then put some pics up for you all to check out. I do sincerely apologize for not writing in the last 2-3 months. I've just lost track of it and need to get on it again. Thank you to all who check this site and pray for us often.

A quick summary...

Jael moved from her crib to a big girl (twin size) bed. Rachel and kids frequented the local farms this summer to pick all kinds of berries...yum! We took the kids camping this summer, which they love doing. My sister and nephew visited from Indianapolis. Elias turned 4 and we had a great birthday party. We bought him a drum set for his birthday (pic to come soon) and we're wondering if that was a good or bad idea...ha! Our friend Jill Reid visited from Indiana and we were blessed to have her. My parents (and older sister) visited and were here for almost 2 weeks. Elias started pre-school 3 days/week and absolutely loves it. We went to the Ocean and the Portland Zoo. The kids played almost every day with their neighbor friends. We have 8 kids between the ages of 7 weeks - 4 years in our little corner of the apartment complex.

We had a great first summer in Eugene!!!

Blessings,

Cint